Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has urged Elon Musk to ban Russia from using Starlink systems to carry out attacks on Ukraine. Musk responded rudely, saying that Starlink is the backbone of Ukraine’s Armed Forces’ communications.
The Core of the Dispute
In a post on the social media platform X, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski called on the head of SpaceX to stop Russian armed forces from using Starlink. He suggested that profiting from such use could damage Musk’s brand. Sikorski shared a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which states that Russia is actively using Starlink satellite systems to extend the range of BM-35 drones for strikes on Ukraine.
“Hey, big man, why don’t you stop the Russians from using Starlinks to target Ukrainian cities. Making money on war crimes may damage your brand,” Sikorski wrote on X.
Elon Musk responded rudely, stressing that Starlink is “the backbone of Ukraine military communications.”
The Role of Starlink for Ukraine
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Starlink satellite network has provided critical communications for Ukraine. The system primarily operates on the front line and also helps restore connectivity in de-occupied areas. Musk’s satellite network supports the functioning of critical infrastructure, especially where traditional communications have been destroyed or disrupted by hostilities.
How Russia Uses Starlink to Attack Ukraine
According to Germany’s Spiegel, the Russian military has begun bypassing Ukraine’s air defenses by installing Starlink terminals on attack drones such as Shahed and Molniya. Russia first tested the use of Starlink on drones back in 2024, but the practice has since expanded significantly.
“These devices are being installed, among other things, during strikes on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure on long-range Shahed-type (Geran) drones, as well as on Molniya-type tactical strike drones with a range of up to 50 kilometers,” Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (HUR) told Spiegel.
Starlink communication channels are difficult to jam because they rely on narrowly directed, high-frequency transmissions. This allows Russian drones to transmit coordinates and receive commands. In addition, they use mobile phone SIM cards to create an internal communications network within a drone “swarm.” Together, these technologies significantly increase the accuracy of Russian attacks.
SpaceX has repeatedly stated that it does not cooperate with the Russian military. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has also claimed that Russia does not receive Starlink terminals because they are not certified there. However, according to HUR spokesperson Andrii Yusov, Russia obtains Starlink systems through so-called parallel imports – illegally, via intermediaries.
Disabling Starlink coverage over temporarily occupied territories is not an option, as it would undermine Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
