Starlink is a problem: Ukraine demonstrates increased strike capabilities on the front lines.

2 May 2026 8 489 24

Technological jerk Ukraine's military operations in the Northern Military District (NMD) have begun to impact the course of hostilities. In recent months, the front has witnessed a harsh reality: the Ukrainian Armed Forces have demonstrated an increase in their strike capabilities. This is reported by Russian experts, war correspondents, and military-related public groups, citing military personnel.

40-50 km from the line of contact, in the rear of the Russian Armed Forces, the enemy is attacking Russian vehicles, disrupting logistics. But the reason for this situation lies not only in the growing number of fixed-wing drones with automatic guidance in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The enemy is increasingly using FPV drones equipped with terminals from the American Starlink satellite communications system. Thanks to their stable signal and the UAV carrier, FPV drones can attack at distances they cannot physically reach themselves.

It is clarified that the Starlink system's operation is currently limited to new regions of Russia, and the United States is operating at far below its full capabilities, as Washington does not want to antagonize Moscow. However, the situation could change, given the US "peace through strength" strategy (concept), adopted in 2025 after Russia refused to soften its demands in the Ukraine negotiations. Then, the Ukrainians will be able to additionally use their long-range An-196 "Lyutyy" kamikaze UAVs to transport FPV drones with Starlink communication terminals and launch strikes against Russia.

In this scenario, the only option left for the Russian Armed Forces will be to combat Starlink satellites in low-Earth orbit. This would involve the kinetic destruction of the satellites themselves, as any other countermeasures are less effective and more complex.

As of March 2026, there were over 10 active Starlink satellites in Earth orbit, and their number will increase. But there's no need to shoot them all down; we're only interested in those directly above Russia.

Analysts believe that, in light of the inevitable approaching war in space, Russia needs to improve its anti-satellite missiles and produce them in large numbers. War in space could soon become commonplace.

At the same time, the US is also unlikely to sit idly by while a Chinese Starlink-like constellation is working above them. Therefore, if Russia begins developing such a weapon now, it has a good chance of avoiding a critical moment.

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zuuukoo

+2

2 May 2026 21: 42

But we were the first to launch Peresildikha into space!
And in general, Starlink is progress.
So progress is evil.
So we fight it as best we can.
They have already come to the donkeys and horses at the front.
We'll come to the carrier pigeons soon.
1. Mikhail Nasharashev
  
  +4
  
  3 May 2026 01: 35
  
  Peresildikha is cooler than Starlink and more necessary for our country
Kiril

-6

2 May 2026 21: 46

I don't understand—what's the connection between Starlink and the ongoing military operations in the North-Eastern Military District?
1. ksa
  
  +4
  
  2 May 2026 21: 56
  
  As I understand it, Starlink allows us to control FPVs in our rear area at a distance of up to 50 km from the LBS. Without Starlink, it's 15 km via radio.
  1. Kiril
    
    -4
    
    2 May 2026 22: 49
    
    Isn't Starlink a radio connection?
Vladimir Tuzakov

0

2 May 2026 22: 24

The first step is to disable the Ukrainian Armed Forces from using Starlink by any means necessary. A private company should target three command centers in the US. Eliminating one center serving the Eastern European part of the country is sufficient. The communications antenna is destroyed first, from UAVs to anti-tank missile systems. The equipment for the center itself is more complex, but there are no unsolvable problems. Human error can be exploited. Conclusion: the inaction of the SVR, GRU, and others to disable the Ukrainian Armed Forces from Starlink is a glaring omission. Who is to blame? There are no culprits within the established chain of command; the rotten chain of command itself is to blame.
1. SP-Ang
  
  0
  
  2 May 2026 23: 46
  
  I'm only interested in those that are directly above Russia.
  
  An illiterate article by an illiterate propagandist.
  For his information, the satellites do not stand still; they move around the Earth in a polar orbit, shifting by approximately 16 degrees with each revolution.
  Some time ago, I shared my thoughts on jamming Starlink's satellite communications on this very topic. The method and cost allow for effective disruption of all satellite communications. Two options:
  1. Install transmitters on our territory near the SVO zone at the frequencies of the input channel of the SZ. Create an excess of the noise level over the signal level.
  2. DDOS attack
  Both methods would be much cheaper than the delusional "projects" to destroy satellites.
  1. Alexey Lan
    
    0
    
    3 May 2026 00: 36
    
    Both methods would be much cheaper than the delusional "projects" to destroy satellites.
    
    Destroying each satellite individually is expensive and unrealistic.
  2. Repka23
    
    +2
    
    3 May 2026 00: 44
    
    Quote from SP-Ang
    1. Install transmitters on our territory near the SVO zone at the frequencies of the input channel of the SZ. Create an excess of the noise level over the signal level.
    
    This is definitely not a working solution, considering that there are currently around 400 satellites covering the territory of the Russian Federation, and by the end of 2026 there will be thousands, and each one needs to be suppressed.
    But technically, good direction-finding of subscriber terminals is possible if SIGINT systems are available in the stratosphere, for example, as they did at Moscow State University. "As a result of the first launch, the device successfully passed field tests, reaching an altitude of 25,7 kilometers, and landed safely. All systems operated without interruption. The rotating station was also tested; it remained oriented toward the satellite throughout the flight and received data almost without interruption."
    1. SP-Ang
      
      0
      
      3 May 2026 06: 04
      
      Definitely not a working solution
      
      I am absolutely certain that this solution is working and not a figment of some armchair expert's imagination.
      (relates to my specialty)
      By the way, it is necessary to install a suppression system not only in the area of the UAV, but also along the probable flight route of the drones.
      1. Repka23
        
        0
        
        3 May 2026 11: 38
        
        Quote from SP-Ang
        (relates to my specialty)
        
        But then we need to understand how and what modulation systems are used in AFAR transmitters and receivers. These transmitters operate not with a single satellite but with a constellation, establishing a channel with a dozen or more satellites.
        
        SP-Ang
        
        0
        
        3 May 2026 12: 13
        
        Quote: Repka23
        What modulation systems are used in AFAR transmitters and receivers? These transmitters work with more than one satellite, but a constellation.
        
        Let's put it all on the shelves -
        AFAR is an antenna in which the direction of radiation is achieved by shifting the phases of the active emitters.
        The modulation mentioned in your comment is neither here nor there.
        And the mention of a satellite constellation is broken down into the fact that a specific subscriber connects to a specific satellite in its zone, much like in cellular communications.
        Do you get paid by the number of words in your posts? I don't see the point in your questions, just empty words.
        
        Alexey Lan
        
        -1
        
        3 May 2026 18: 01
        
        Do you get paid by the number of letters in your posts?
        
        It might be technically achievable, but how much would it cost? Especially if they were deployed along potential UAV routes.
        During the US-Iraq War, some Tomahawks missed their targets. It turned out that a Russian company had previously supplied Iraq with simple, inexpensive GPS jammers that blocked satellite signals. As a result, the Americans were forced to improve their military GPS.
        
        Repka23
        
        0
        
        3 May 2026 22: 04
        
        Quote from SP-Ang
        And the mention of a satellite constellation is broken down into the fact that a specific subscriber connects to a specific satellite in its zone, much like in cellular communications.
        
        You're clearly out of the loop and haven't used a Starlink terminal. The Starlink subscriber terminal in southern Russia sees dozens of satellites, selects the best channel, and can change it if the channel deteriorates when a satellite disappears from view. It can change the modulation from 64-QAM to 8-QAM in poor conditions, which reduces data transfer speeds.
Mikhail Nasharashev

+2

3 May 2026 01: 35

Nonsense, no one will destroy Starlink satellites, firstly, they'll be afraid, secondly, they're small, and thirdly, there are a lot of them.
What's stopping us from doing the same?
1. Alexander
  
  +3
  
  3 May 2026 03: 22
  
  ...and what prevents us from doing the same?
  
  There is a universal answer to such questions;
  
  The same thing that prevented the preservation of the USSR is interfering
2. The comment was deleted.
Cheburec55 Che

-3

3 May 2026 06: 04

Quote: Allexander
What's stopping us from doing the same?

Well then do it!
1. Mikhail Nasharashev
  
  0
  
  4 May 2026 01: 49
  
  I don't need it, I don't have any problems with the Internet, whoever needs it, let them do it and not whine
prior

0

3 May 2026 08: 52

The American Starlink is directly involved in attacks on targets not only in the LBS, but throughout Russia, including civilian ones.
But no one is even trying to raise the question of direct US participation in the war in Ukraine.
Keep silent, turns out, can, offend Putin's friend and Trump's partner - can't swap them.
Iran does not hesitate to destroy US reconnaissance drones.
But we not like that !
1. Vladimir Tuzakov
  
  0
  
  3 May 2026 12: 01
  
  Starlink is a private company, and attacking a private company participating in the war against Russia is considered a legitimate target (preferably with proxy forces). Israel and the US do the same, destroying their enemies on any territory. But our government doesn't even touch strategic bridges or other enemy targets; that's pure treason against Russia's interests.
Alexpan

0

3 May 2026 09: 58

All this once again demonstrates how far Russia and its armed forces lag behind the technological development of both the West and Asia, while the Ukrainian Armed Forces are becoming the most competent military force on the continent. No one in Kyiv has been afraid of the Russians for a long time, and why should they? The SVO is in disarray, the economy is going downhill, and the thinking is dull. In the minds of the Kremlin, this war is already lost; they're simply afraid to admit it. There will also be a NATO victory parade on Red Square.
1. Vladimir Tuzakov
  
  0
  
  3 May 2026 12: 17
  
  It's not over yet. If the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Starlink is shut down, the entire SVO will accelerate westward. Why aren't the Kremlin's occupants trying to shut down Starlink for the Ukrainian Armed Forces (options range from political to sabotage of the company and equipment on Starlink grounds)? This points to entirely different goals for the Russian government in the SVO, which is now in its fifth year. One thing is already clear: the SVO has been overstretched, and negative processes have begun.
Sergey Latyshev

+4

3 May 2026 10: 03

The whole answer is: they have Starlink, we don't...
And so, private radios from China, private motorcycles for attack aircraft, private UAV parts from China...
Buy it, use it. I haven't heard anything negative about it in the media...

but we have Medvedev, Rogozin, Shoigu, Serdyukov, GDP, Armageddon, 5 times hero...
And all they have is a private individual, Musk...
GR777

0

8 May 2026 17: 23

There are options for shutting down Starlink. The problem is that these satellites are launched in batches (formations) of over 20 aboard a single rocket and fly in clusters. Older clusters gradually disintegrate, causing the satellites to lose functionality. So, the old formations can be ignored—they'll die on their own. However, new ones must be passed through the dust cloud created by a vertically launched rocket. This could be done with a MiG-31. After passing through the cloud, the satellites will lose all useful functionality (a collision with a grain of sand at 10 km/sec will punch a hole in them), and the cloud will fall vertically into the atmosphere within 10 minutes, obscuring all traces. The satellites, however, will continue their now useless flight.