Overview
- Ukraine’s defense minister said on January 26 that Russian Shahed drones had been observed using Starlink for operations.
- The Institute for the Study of War reported growing reliance on Starlink, including BM-35 drones with an advertised range of about 500 km that could threaten areas beyond front lines.
- An investigation by Nordsint alleges Starlink terminals reached Russia in 2025 via routes through the UAE’s Sharjah, Hong Kong and parts of Europe using deceptive declarations and third‑country activations.
- SpaceX says it provides no hardware or service to Russia, and companies named in the probe, including Emaross Group FZE and Castor Marine, deny knowingly facilitating diversion.
- Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski publicly urged Elon Musk to block Russian use, while specialists noted any broad shutdown could also affect Ukrainian forces that depend on Starlink.