Ukrainian Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Colonel Andriy Lebedenko, acknowledged that there is a threat of Russian aggressors destabilizing Starlink.
Regarding media reports about the possibility of Russian military destabilizing Starlink, Lebedenko said:Indeed, such a threat is under consideration.”
“Thus, the infrastructure ensuring the functioning of the management system has been secured, which includes terrestrial channels, other satellite communication systems and high-speed radio communication tools,” he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Friday.
Lebedenko said:Yes, there will certainly be impacts and consequences, but they will not have a significant impact on the management system, including the unmanned aerial vehicle management system and the ground robotics complex.”
The New York Times previously reported that Russia had deployed advanced technology to disrupt Starlink satellite internet operations ahead of its invasion of the Kharkiv region, where Ukrainian defense forces rely on it for communications, intelligence gathering and drone attacks.
Starlink, operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX, has been crucial to Ukraine's military operations since the early days of its conflict with Russia.
It was noted that soldiers from the Ukrainian Army's 92nd Assault Brigade observed an interruption in Starlink internet service just before Russian forces crossed Ukraine's northern border this month.
Ukrainian military officials said the lack of reliable communications meant they were unable to quickly communicate and share information about the sudden advance, forcing them to rely on text messages. Russia likely deployed more powerful electronic warfare and more sophisticated methods to disrupt the Starlink systems.
