Ukraine is already working with SpaceX to address the use of Starlink satellite communications by Russian forces on strike drones. Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov reported this on January 29.
Contact with SpaceX
According to Fedorov, the Ministry of Defense contacted SpaceX just a few hours after Russian drones equipped with Starlink were detected over Ukrainian cities. Ukraine immediately proposed several possible solutions to the problem.
The Ministry of Defense, together with SpaceX, is already working to resolve the use of Starlink on Russian UAVs, Fedorov wrote.
He thanked SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and Elon Musk personally for their swift response and for launching work on the issue.
Expert Observations
Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Minister of Defense and an expert in electronic warfare and communications systems, first recorded the successful operation of a Russian drone using Starlink on December 15, 2025. He published a photo of a Molniya UAV equipped with a satellite terminal.
According to him, attempts by Russia to use satellite communications on drones had been recorded before. However, Russia has now begun doing this systematically.
Later, “Flash” also documented the use of Starlink on BM-35 strike drones, as well as Shahed and Gerbera drones. These platforms can travel hundreds of kilometers and carry up to 27 kilograms of explosives.
On January 24, the Russians attacked two Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopters near Kropyvnytskyi. There were no relay drones in the area. Therefore, this was the first confirmed use of Shahed drones equipped with Starlink, Beskrestnov said.
He added that the drones flew very close to the ground to avoid radar detection. He also noted that he had previously warned about this threat.
On January 27, Shahed drones with online control attacked a passenger train near Barvinkove in the Kharkiv region. At least five people were killed. A day earlier, according to “Flash,” drones using Starlink were also detected over Kyiv and Dnipro.
Confirmation and Systemic Threat
Ukrainian drone warfare expert Pavlo Kashchuk also reported an increase in the use of Starlink on strike drones. The same day, Mykhailo Fedorov confirmed this information during the “Army of Drones–2025” event, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
The minister stressed that Russia is using this type of integration more regularly. As a result, the threat to Ukrainian cities and military targets is growing significantly.
Need for Rapid Response
The minister emphasized the importance of rapid response and anticipation of enemy actions. According to him, the speed of decision-making and the ability to predict Russia’s next steps are critical for the safety of both civilians and the military.
He also recalled that Elon Musk’s decision to activate Starlink and send the first terminals to Ukraine at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion played a critical role in strengthening the country’s resilience. According to Fedorov, Western technologies must protect civilians, not be used for terror.
Previously, The Ukrainian Review reported on a public dispute between Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and Elon Musk, which unfolded amid reports of Russia’s use of Starlink.
