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Russia Turns to Homegrown Satellite Systems After Starlink Access Cut
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Russia is deploying new satellite internet terminals based on domestic Yamal and Express systems following disruptions in access to Starlink, according to a Ukrainian defense official.
Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, stated that Russian forces have begun transitioning to alternative providers of satellite communication after losing access to Starlink, which had previously supported their battlefield connectivity. His comments were reported by Defence Blog.
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According to Beskrestnov, the replacement systems rely on Russian-operated Yamal and Express satellite constellations, which are typically used for civilian and government communications. The new terminals use open satellite dishes between 60 and 120 centimeters in diameter—visibly larger and more exposed than Starlink units.
“The dish will be visually open,” Beskrestnov said. “At these frequencies, a protective cover like on Starlink will interfere with operation. The dish can be placed deeper behind the front line and connected to the forward positions by a Wi-Fi bridge.”
He noted that these larger systems may be easier to detect compared to the compact, enclosed Starlink terminals, potentially exposing them to targeting.
Defence Blog reports that Russia’s shift follows what Ukrainian officials described as a disruption in command-and-control systems linked to the blocking of Starlink access. Over the past year, Russia reportedly obtained thousands of Starlink terminals through intermediaries in countries such as Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, and Singapore.
The deployment of domestic terminals follows Ukraine’s efforts to counter Russia’s use of Starlink-connected drones in combat operations. According to multiple reports, Russian units exploited Starlink terminals—often acquired via intermediaries—to coordinate FPV drone attacks on logistics routes, including a strike on a civilian bus on January 30.
In response, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov contacted SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and later announced the rollout of a nationwide Starlink “white list” system. Under the new policy, only verified terminals may operate in Ukraine. Unverified devices will be automatically blocked in coordination with SpaceX.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that Russian forces have been pressuring families of captured Ukrainian soldiers to register Starlink terminals in their own names.
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