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How Russia Tries to Replace Starlink Terminals With Line of Sight Wi-Fi Bridges
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Ukrainian drone operators from the 414th brigade, known as “Ptakhy Madyara,” discovered a Russian communications tower used as a data-relay node on a section of the front, according to Ukrainian Defense Ministry adviser Serhii Beskrestnov on February 24.
Beskrestnov stated Russian forces have been trying to build alternative channels after Starlink terminals used by Russian troops in Ukraine were blocked under a Ukrainian-led verification and whitelist system coordinated with SpaceX.
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Ukrainian officials have said the approach allows only verified, authorized terminals to operate on Ukrainian territory, while unlisted terminals—including those linked to Russian use—are cut off, with the whitelist updated regularly.
In a caption to the video, published by Beskrestnov on Telegram, he shared that the video shows a communications-node tower “not even at brigade level.”
He argued that taking down such infrastructure can collapse data transmission across an entire section of the front.
Beskrestnov remarked that Russian units rely on stable connectivity for video feeds, reconnaissance data, and command-and-control, and that the loss of those links can disrupt headquarters information systems.
He also said Russia has placed particular emphasis on Wi-Fi “bridge” networks that require elevation and direct radio line-of-sight.
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Building towers and other above-ground communications nodes creates obvious, high-value targets.
Destroying them can disrupt or break data links along the sector of the line, which makes them clear markers for Ukrainian drone crews to spot and strike, Beskrestnov concluded.
Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine disrupted Russian military use of unauthorized Starlink terminals through a coordinated verification system that blocks unapproved devices operating on occupied territory.
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