Russia’s Starlink Drones Hit Kyiv as SpaceX Cuts Access

Russian forces flew strike drones equipped with Starlink terminals deep into Ukraine, reaching central Kyiv and hitting targets far from the front lines. SpaceX responded by cutting off unauthorized access, which led to a collapse in Russian military communications across the battlefield.

Background

The conflict in Ukraine has seen both sides rely heavily on advanced technology for operations. Starlink, the satellite internet service from SpaceX, became a key tool early in the war. Ukraine got official support from SpaceX to use it for communications, especially near the front lines where regular internet fails. Russian forces, banned from direct use under U.S. sanctions and SpaceX rules, found workarounds. They bought terminals through third countries and fitted them onto drones.

These drones, like the BM-35 and modified Shahed types known as Gueran or Gerbera, gained longer range and better control. Starlink let operators in Russia stay connected even over hundreds of kilometers. The signal resisted Ukrainian jamming efforts, which normally disrupt drone GPS and radio links. This change started around mid-December 2025, when Russian strikes grew more precise on moving targets deep inside Ukraine.

Attacks picked up in late January 2026. On January 28, drones hit a passenger train in the Kharkiv region, killing five people. Days later, on February 1, a swarm struck a bus carrying coal miners in Ternivka, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Twelve workers died, and 16 others were hurt. The bus was over 70 kilometers from Russian positions, showing the drones' extended reach.

Ukrainian officials spotted the pattern quickly. Drones appeared over Kyiv before air raid sirens sounded, a sign of improved capabilities. Reports came in of hundreds of such strikes since early 2025. The terminals made drones hard to stop, flying low and fast with smaller warheads than standard Shaheds.

Key Details

SpaceX acted fast after Ukraine raised the alarm. On January 29, Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov contacted the company about drones over Ukrainian cities. Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, confirmed steps to block unauthorized use. They set up a 'white list' for terminals—only approved Ukrainian devices work now. Terminals moving faster than 90 km/h on Ukrainian soil get disabled, targeting drones effectively.

Impact on Russian Forces

The cutoff hit Russian units hard. Starlink had become central to their command setup. Without it, they lost real-time coordination for attacks, artillery adjustments, and drone control. Ukrainian adviser Serhii Beskrestnov, who works with the defense minister, said the front line turned into a catastrophe for Russia.

"The Russians don’t just have problems at the front. It has a catastrophe. All command and control has collapsed. Assault operations have been halted in many areas," Beskrestnov said.

Russian pro-war bloggers admitted the issues openly. Connectivity vanished across the entire line. Assaults stopped in key spots. Some Russian frontline groups depended on smuggled Starlink for daily ops, not just drones.

Ukraine faced minor hiccups too. A few units lost signal because they did not submit terminal data for the white list in time. Processing continues to fix that.

The Drone Threat

BM-35 drones, fitted with Starlink, flew low to dodge air defenses. Their warheads were about half the size of a Shahed's, but numbers made up for it. In the Ternivka attack, one drone hit near the bus, causing a crash. A second targeted survivors as they got out. Pro-Russian channels tracked five explosions from Gueran and Gerbera drones between 4:40 and 4:45 p.m.

DTEK, the energy company employing the miners, called it the worst attack since the full invasion began. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba tied it to the Kharkiv train strike. These hits showed Russia shifting to swarms for civilian and mobile targets.

What This Means

Russia's loss of Starlink forces a rethink. Frontline units scramble for alternatives like radio modems or relays from Belarus. Those work but lack the range and jam resistance of satellite links. Strikes up to 150 km deep might still happen with older tech, but precision drops. Assaults have paused, giving Ukraine breathing room to reinforce.

For Ukraine, the white list secures their edge. Most military units stay online, vital for drone ops against Russian forces. But mobile terminals on fast vehicles face risks from the speed limit. Adjustments are underway.

SpaceX's move sets a line: no offensive military use. Musk has blocked coverage over occupied Crimea before to avoid escalation. This time, it hit drone guidance directly. Russian bloggers call it a disaster beyond expectations. Beskrestnov agrees—the command breakdown goes deeper than anyone predicted.

Broader effects ripple out. Ukraine pushes for more countermeasures against drone swarms. Starlink's role grows, but controls tighten to keep it from both sides' misuse. Russian forces hunt new suppliers, but white lists and speed blocks make repeats harder. The front stabilizes short-term as Russia adapts, but the tech arms race heats up. Ukraine reports real results from the restrictions, with fewer deep strikes since.