Russia Uses Starlink to Extend Range of Attack Drones, Ukraine Says

Ukrainian authorities say they have gathered evidence of hundreds of Russian drone attacks using Starlink-equipped systems, marking a significant shift in Moscow’s drone warfare tactics. The addition of satellite internet allows drones to operate beyond the reach of GPS and radio jammers that Ukraine relies on for air defense.

Starlink and Drone Warfare

Serhii Beskrestnov, a military technology expert advising Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, said Starlink-enabled drones have been used to strike rear and frontline cities, including residential areas. He accused Russia of using civilian communication technology for terror tactics, saying the attacks deliberately targeted non-military locations.

By integrating Starlink, Russian forces are able to maintain stable, high-speed connections with drones, enabling real-time control from deep inside Russian territory. This allows longer flight ranges and improved strike accuracy compared with radio-controlled or cable-guided drones.

Longer Range, Lower Cost

While Russia has previously used fiber-optic-controlled drones to avoid jamming, their operational range is limited by cable length. Starlink-equipped drones remove that constraint, allowing flights of up to 500 kilometers, according to Ukrainian estimates.

Beskrestnov said a Starlink-enabled BM-35 drone used in a strike on the city of Dnipro demonstrated the expanded range. He also suggested that a recent deadly attack on a civilian train in eastern Ukraine may have involved a drone guided through Starlink or similar mesh radio technology.

Despite their extended reach, these drones remain relatively inexpensive. A Starlink Mini terminal costs a fraction of advanced cruise missiles or large attack drones, making the system a cost-effective alternative that is harder to detect and intercept.

Energy Facilities Targeted

Earlier this month, swarms of simple Molniya drones equipped with Starlink were reportedly used to strike energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region. The plywood-built drones are cheap and basic, yet officials say Starlink connectivity allowed roughly one-third of them to reach their targets.

According to Beskrestnov, electronic warfare systems are largely ineffective against such drones, leaving physical interception as the primary defense option.

Kyiv Seeks Response From SpaceX

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Kyiv needs to respond quickly to the evolving threat, noting that Russia launched more than 6,000 drones in the past month alone — more than double the number recorded a year earlier.

Fedorov said the ministry has contacted SpaceX with proposals aimed at preventing Russia from using Starlink systems. He thanked SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and Elon Musk for engaging with Ukrainian officials on the issue.

Starlink is officially banned from being sold or used in Russia under U.S. sanctions, but Ukrainian officials say Russian forces have obtained terminals through third countries.

Regional Security Concerns

The Institute for the Study of War warned that drones with a 500-kilometer range could place most of Ukraine, all of Moldova, and parts of NATO member states within potential striking distance if launched from Russian or occupied territory.

Ukraine’s sanctions commissioner Vladyslav Vlasiuk said the growing use of Starlink by Russian forces demonstrates that existing sanctions enforcement remains insufficient, calling for tighter controls to prevent further misuse of the technology.