Taken from a drone, and shared by a source within the Ukrainian army with the specialized American site Defense One, the image is a little blurry. But the white, rectangular shape that we see there is perfectly recognizable: a Starlink receiver, which was allegedly discovered by the Ukrainian army on a Russian position in the east of the country.
For several days, the Kiev authorities have accused the satellite Internet service provider – a subsidiary of SpaceX, of which businessman Elon Musk is CEO – of letting the Russian armed forces use it. “Radio intercepts show that Starlink terminals were installed, for example, in units of the 83e airborne brigade » in Donetsk oblast, thus assured the intelligence service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (GUR). Using these powerful satellite tools “starts to become systematic”even declared an officer of the intelligence service.
Musk denies any contract with Russia
On his X account, Elon Musk denied any transaction with Moscow : “To our knowledge, no Starlink has been sold directly or indirectly to Russia? » “If SpaceX becomes aware of the use of a Starlink terminal by a sanctioned or unauthorized third party, we will investigate and take steps to deactivate it if necessary”for its part declared Starlink in a press release.
According to Ukrainian media and the GUR, Russian forces obtained the terminals needed through Dubai or other Middle East countries. It is in fact common for embargoed countries to transport equipment of which they are deprived through third countries. “Starlink does not operate in Dubai. Starlink cannot be acquired in Dubai and we do not ship there”, however, the company replied.
Furthermore, Starlink terminals are only supposed to operate in specific areas, and Russia is not one of them. But the status of areas occupied by Russia in Ukraine and areas close to the front line is less clear: it seems possible to Russian troops located near the coverage zone and having got their hands on Starlink terminals to use it, provided they do so without the company’s knowledge. “It is not a certified system with us. Therefore, it cannot be provided officially and it is not provided officially. We therefore do not use it in any official way”, declared, sibylline, the spokesperson of the Kremlin, Dmitri Peskovto a journalist who questioned him on this subject.
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