Major Cyber Operation Against Russian Starlink Usage
Ukraine has successfully neutralized around 2,420 Starlink terminals utilized by Russian forces, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense. This operation was conducted by the 256th Cyber Storm Division in collaboration with the InformNapalm community and activist Serhiy Sternenko.
The initiative reportedly misled Russian users into believing they had found a workaround for the Starlink blocks. The Ministry mentioned that the blocked terminals’ exact locations have been identified and forwarded for further action.
In addition to countering Starlink usage, Russian operatives unwittingly donated $5,870 to Sternenko, which he plans to allocate for acquiring additional drones. Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated that this effort has left Russia without vital satellite communication capabilities.
During a press conference following a Ramstein meeting, Fedorov emphasized that this is just the start of Ukraine’s strategic initiatives against Russian drone operations.
The focus on blocking these terminals began after reports of Russian drone attacks utilizing Starlink. Following several incidents, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reached out to SpaceX for solutions.
Additionally, Ukraine has implemented a ‘whitelist’ system, allowing only verified Starlink terminals under its control. This process of blocking Russian terminals was largely concluded by February 5.
In a desperate attempt to circumvent these blocks, Russian users are reportedly threatening families of captives to convince them to register terminals, while also seeking collaborators willing to register terminals for money.
Ukraine's latest operation has effectively disabled over 2,400 Starlink terminals used by Russian forces. Officials confirm this marks a significant step in countering Russian drone capabilities amidst ongoing tensions.