Russian Troops Turned Guns on Each Other, When Starlink Went Silent

Russian military units are reportedly experiencing widespread failures of Starlink satellite terminals, disrupting battlefield command and even triggering incidents of friendly fire, according to an update from the Ukrainian partisan movement Atesh on February 6.

The group said its sources within Russia’s 122nd Motor Rifle Regiment operating near Kupiansk and the 1152nd Regiment on the Zaporizhzhia front described the same situation: effective command and control inside the units had largely collapsed.

With Starlink terminals in many Russian formations reportedly no longer functioning, communications personnel are struggling to restore connectivity.

According to the report:

• attempts to establish backup communication channels are repeatedly failing;

• standard electronic-warfare systems are unintentionally jamming Russian radios, further degrading coordination.

“Without stable communications at the front, chaos begins,” Atesh wrote. “The lack of coordination is already leading to heavy losses—and not only from the enemy.”

On the Zaporizhzhia axis, a complete breakdown in communications allegedly resulted in a friendly-fire incident. Russian troops, unable to identify nearby allied positions, opened fire on their own forces, reportedly destroying a 12-person assault group.

The partisan movement argued that Russia’s reliance on civilian communication technology had turned into a critical vulnerability.

“Once communications disappear, command disintegrates, and troops begin destroying themselves,” the statement said.

Earlier, Ukraine launched mandatory verification of all Starlink satellite terminals through a national “white list,” allowing only registered and approved devices to operate in the country.

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