Shutting down Russian Starlink satellites helped Ukraine recapture 400 square kilometers of territory — Bloomberg
Early this year, Ukrainian forces were able to recapture approximately 400 square kilometers of territory after disabling thousands of Starlink terminals used by Russian troops. This is according to an assessment by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. The document notes that the loss of access to satellite communications significantly hampered the coordination of Russian units on the front lines.
This was reported by Bloomberg.
In early 2026, the Ukrainian Defense Forces managed to regain control of approximately 400 square kilometers of territory during an offensive in the south. The Pentagon believes that one of the key factors in the success of this operation was the disconnection of Russian troops from the Starlink satellite internet.
As the agency notes, after losing access to the system, the occupiers faced serious communication problems. This led to a deterioration in unit command and a loss of situational awareness on the battlefield, as previously reported extensively by Russian military Telegram channels. It is known that the U.S. and SpaceX have been working together in recent months to block the Russian army’s use of Starlink, as Washington considers the system critically important specifically for the Ukrainian military.
At the same time, the report emphasizes that this success by the Ukrainian Armed Forces has not yet led to a major turning point on the front lines. Russia continues its offensive operations on several other fronts.
Earlier, U.S. drones were stranded at sea due to a Starlink malfunction.
Ukrainian Starlink terminals end up in enemy hands due to complex delivery routes.
Russia’s “shadow fleet” uses Starlink terminals to circumvent sanctions.
