Starlink on the frontlines: a Russian drone was carrying a surprise secret

Drones have become increasingly prevalent in the skies over Ukraine, sometimes carrying hidden threats. In September 2024, Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian drone, revealing alarming discoveries among the wreckage.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces reportedly shot down a Russian drone on September 25th and soon discovered after troops found the wreckage that it had been equipped with a Starlink terminal. Photo evidence was of the claim published online by the Polkovnyk GSh Telegram channel. 

The drone in question was identified as an Iranian-designed Shahed-136 according to a report from Newsweek. However, the Ukrainian government declined to address reports regarding the downed Russian Starlink-equipped drone. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @war_home

Newsweek reported on images released by the Ukrainian news outlet Defense Express, which were the same images the Polkovnyk GSh channel published on Telegram. Newsweek noted it could not verify the images. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @war_home / Edited by The Daily Digest

According to the Ukrainian military news organization Defense Blog, Starlink’s terminals are thought to provide a stable communications link for transmitting information like photo or video data. This can be quite helpful for Russian and Ukrainian operations on the battlefield. 

Photo Credit: Telegram @war_home / Edited by The Daily Digest

Starlink-equipped drones can also provide telemetry data and can improve the combat effectiveness of drones on the battlefield whether that be in a reconnaissance capacity or during attack or strike missions against enemy targets. 

Defense Blog noted one of the benefits of using a Starlink terminal with a drone is that it could provide real-time control of a drone during reconnaissance missions, allowing the drone’s operator to adjust its targeting based on live intelligence. 

One unnamed Ukrainian official quoted by Defense Blog stated about Starlink terminals on Russian drones that the “capability presents a new challenge, as it allows the enemy to select targets dynamically during a mission.”

Photo Credit: Telegram @war_home / Edited by The Daily Digest

Defence Blog also reported that by adding a Starlink terminal to its drones, Russia could theoretically not only extend their range but also protect the weapons from jamming and disruption since they bypassed traditional radio transmissions. 

Satellite-linked combat and reconnaissance drones have more resistant communication systems, which makes them more dangerous on the battlefield. Defense Express noted the Shahed model was likely chosen to be equipped with Starlink for its large size.  

“The choice of Shahed drones for such purposes may be due to their range of about 2,000 km and a rather large free volume in the middle of the fuselage,” noted Defense Express explained, adding that Elon Musk’s Starlink did not sell its product to Russia. 

The Ukrainian General Staff claimed that September 25th saw the country’s air defenses shoot down 28 of the 32 drones launched against Ukraine. No other drones shot down that day were reported to have been equipped with a Starlink terminal. 

According to Newsweek, Ukraine has relied heavily on Starlink’s internet access for its battlefield communications in the conflict and for using the system to control its drones. However, Kyiv has also accused Russia of using the systems as well. 

In February 2024, Ukrainian military intelligence accused Russia of using Starlink terminals in Ukraine. Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov said that Russia's use of Starlink on the battlefield was becoming “systematic.”

Starlink is owned and operated by American billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX. However, the company has previously stated that it does not sell any equipment to Russia nor is any of its equipment active inside of Russian borders. 

"Starlink is not active in Russia, meaning service will not work in that country," the company explained in a statement according to Newsweek. “SpaceX has never sold or marketed Starlink in Russia, nor has it shipped equipment to locations in Russia.”

“If SpaceX obtains knowledge that a Starlink terminal is being used by a sanctioned or unauthorized party, we investigate the claim and take actions to deactivate the terminal if confirmed," the statement added.

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