Ukraine has recaptured 400 km² of territory following the disconnection of Starlink from Russian military forces
The Ukrainian offensive earlier this year enabled the recapture of approximately 400 square kilometres of territory following the deactivation of thousands of Starlink terminals used by the Russian military. This was reported by the US Department of Defence’s Intelligence Directorate in a new report on US aid to Ukraine.
The document notes that these were Ukraine’s first territorial gains since 2023.
According to US intelligence assessments, Russian military capabilities were “temporarily but significantly weakened” after the Ukrainian side succeeded in February in shutting down terminals that were being used illegally by Russian forces.
The report states that Russian troops used Starlink terminals, developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, to coordinate movements and drone strikes.
The document also notes that communication problems for the Russian military worsened following the Kremlin’s restrictions on the Telegram messaging app, which was actively used by Russian troops for communication at the front.
At the same time, the US Defence Intelligence Agency emphasised that, as of March, the Russian army still maintained an overall advantage over Ukrainian forces in most areas of combat operations.
Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian Minister of Defence, stated in February that the loss of Starlink had become “not a problem, but a disaster” for Russian troops.
“Command and control has collapsed, and offensive operations have ground to a halt in many areas,” he noted.
In 2024, reports began to emerge of the Russian military using Starlink, although the service was not officially available to the Russian armed forces.
Following a request from Ukraine, SpaceX received information that its terminals were being used by Russian drones attacking Ukraine.
In February, the company published instructions on the official registration of Starlink terminals for further use in Ukraine. Elon Musk also urged Ukrainian users to follow these rules.
The Pentagon had previously stated that SpaceX had been actively cooperating with the US to combat the illegal use of Starlink by the Russian military.
Amanda Dory, former Acting Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, informed Senator Elizabeth Warren in June 2024 that the company had provided information for investigations and helped block access to the service.
In August 2024, SpaceX was awarded a Pentagon contract to expand Ukraine’s access to a more secure and militarised version of the Starlink network.
Amid reports of a possible new Russian operation, Ukraine announced heightened security measures in the north of the country.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia is considering a new offensive in northern Ukraine, which could resemble the attempt to capture Kyiv at the start of the full-scale invasion.
