The Russian Federation may include Starlink terminals in targets for influence – Kommersant

The use of Starlink satellite communication terminals by Ukrainian troops causes “certain difficulties,” said the head of the electronic warfare (EW) troops of the Russian Armed Forces, Yuri Lastochkin. According to him, the scientific and technical potential of the Russian military-industrial complex makes it possible to include terminals “in the list of targets for influence.”

In an interview with the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper, Mr. Lastochkin answered a question about Ukraine’s use of Starlink and how this system can be counteracted. In his opinion, the transfer of technology from a commercial system to “one of the warring parties” is a continuation of the theme of “double standards” of the United States.

“The use of commercial frequency bands, which runs counter to international obligations, creates certain difficulties. But the existing scientific and technical reserve of military-industrial enterprises

complex allows us to quickly take measures to include new objects in the list of targets for influence,” Mr. Lastochkin told Krasnaya Zvezda (the newspaper issue was published in its Telegram channel).

Starlink is a project of SpaceX, which was founded by Elon Musk. Ukrainian authorities said in December 2023 that there are about 47 thousand Starlink terminals operating in the country. How stated Head of Military Intelligence of Ukraine Kirill Budanov, the system is used along the entire front line. According to Western media, Russian troops have also been using the terminals in recent months. Elon Musk deniedthat SpaceX did not directly or indirectly sell terminals to Russia. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov saidthat Starlink terminals cannot be officially supplied and used in Russia.

Leonid Uvarchev