SpaceX’s Starlink, the company behind the high-speed internet service, aggressively markets its technology as “accessible almost anywhere on Earth.” However, the actual coverage area appears to be limited to countries where Elon Musk’s satellite service lacks agreements, including territories under repressive regimes.
A Bloomberg investigation has uncovered numerous instances of illegal trading and activation of Starlink kits. The methods of their smuggling and the availability on the black market indicate a global problem of misuse, casting doubt on the company’s control over a system that has clear national security implications.
Ukraine relies on Starlink in its warfare against drones. According to CNN, Russia also seems to utilize these devices, circumventing sanctions.
On the frontlines, Ukrainian soldiers report issues with connecting to Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service and an increase in the use of Russian devices despite U.S. sanctions.
In a series of interviews conducted on the frontlines, Ukrainian soldiers claim that connection speeds have decreased over recent months. These complaints coincide with a rise in the use of Russian internet through social media, where Russian users assert they’ve bypassed sanctions by purchasing devices in third-party countries.
“Before New Year, the speed was much higher,” says Commander Anton from the 65th Mechanized Brigade. “Now it has halved. I’ve seen information that Russians are buying Starlink through neutral countries and using them on the Zaporizhzhia frontline for their own purposes.”
These statements indicate that the issue of misuse of the Starlink system could have serious consequences not only for its users but also for international security as a whole.