Satellite Internet Becomes Battlefield in Ukraine-Russia War
As Russia's invasion of Ukraine reaches four and a half years, the conflict has extended into outer space, where satellite internet plays a vital role in military operations. Ukraine employs 'kill webs'—systems that combine intelligence and logistics data—heavily relying on Starlink, which is owned by Elon Musk. Meanwhile, Russia has circumvented sanctions by sourcing terminals from resellers in the Middle East. In February, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's former defence minister, called on Musk to restrict Russian access to aid in reclaiming territory. This year, Russia introduced its own satellite network, Rassvet, launching 16 satellites with plans for 292 by next year. The war has exposed Ukraine's weaknesses, leading to the consideration of alternatives like Eutelsat OneWeb, while Russia has utilized drones for sabotage throughout Europe, accelerating military advancements.
Key facts
- Ukraine is the first nation to use kill webs at scale in warfare.
- Starlink, owned by SpaceX and run by Elon Musk, has been crucial for Ukraine's military communications.
- Russia accessed Starlink through terminals bought from resellers in the Middle East, bypassing sanctions.
- In February, Ukraine's then-defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov lobbied Musk to enforce stricter verification, blocking Russian access.
- Russia launched the first 16 satellites of its Rassvet network earlier this year.
- Rassvet aims to have 292 satellites in orbit by next year and nearly a thousand by 2035.
- SpaceX implemented geofencing, limiting Starlink use to Ukrainian territory.
- During 2025 negotiations, the Trump administration threatened to cut off Starlink access if Zelensky refused a deal.
- Ukraine is exploring alternatives like Europe's Eutelsat OneWeb.
- Russia has used drones for sabotage and reconnaissance in the UK, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Germany, the Baltics, and Romania.
- Ukraine is targeting Soyuz-2 rocket factories to stop Rassvet's completion.
Entities
Institutions
- SpaceX
- Starlink
- Rassvet
- Eutelsat OneWeb
- Monocle
Locations
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Middle East
- United States
- UK
- Scandinavia
- Netherlands
- Germany
- Baltics
- Romania
Sources
- Monocle —