Russia Blocks Starlink Internet, Cripples Ukrainian Drones
UKRAINE: Russian forces are reportedly stepping up efforts to thwart Ukraine’s medium-range strike drones by disguising supply cargo and installing high-power electronic jamming systems.
The move is aimed at disrupting the Starlink satellite internet network owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, which serves as the primary medium for piloting the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), according to revelations by several Ukrainian commanders and drone pilots to Reuters.
Kiev’s capability to develop medium-range strike drones capable of accurately hitting targets tens of kilometres behind the front lines at low cost was found to have drastically changed the landscape of the conflict in the country.
Through a planned campaign of attacks this year, Ukraine managed to cripple Kremlin’s logistics networks, fuel storage facilities, air defence systems, and command centres, thus triggering a fuel supply crisis in the Russian-occupied Crimea region.
However, Russia is now being detected as developing various alternative methods to counter this medium-range strike capability, four commanders and drone pilots told the Reuters news agency during a visit to the base of Ukraine’s 422nd Unmanned Systems Regiment in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defence Ministry Advisor, Serhii Beskrestnov, informed that Moscow has begun deploying a specialised signal isolation system known as Volna Kupol Garant.
The sophisticated system is capable of emitting high-power wave signals strong enough to disable and destabilise Starlink internet connections within an area of up to 20 square kilometres (7.7 square miles).
To date, at least 10 units of the anti-drone hardware have been detected on the battlefield.
However, the positions of these jamming systems have now become primary targets for Ukrainian drone crews seeking to destroy any obstacles to ensure the smooth operation of their airspace.
REUTERS