Overview
- An investigation by the Kyiv Independent reports that tankers moving sanctioned Russian oil use Starlink terminals and other Western satellite gear to stay in contact with owners.
- Crew accounts describe captains receiving covert instructions for ship‑to‑ship oil transfers while AIS tracking is switched off, with Starlink keeping communications running.
- A Ukrainian sanctions official, Vladislav Vlasiuk, urged SpaceX to stop service to shadow fleets and warned that GPS spoofing to mask vessels puts other ships at risk.
- Sources said Starlink hardware can be bought through proxy firms and shipped abroad, reflecting how consumer kits and global resellers help operators sidestep controls.
- Ukraine and SpaceX rolled out a registration whitelist last month to cut off unauthorized access in Ukraine, yet the reporting questions whether such measures block use at sea or via third countries.