Russia Moves to Ban Starlink Sales as Lawmakers Tighten Control Over Satellite Internet

Russia’s State Duma has approved a package of amendments banning the sale of equipment for foreign satellite communication systems that have not received authorization to use Russian radio frequencies.

Under the new rules, websites offering such devices for sale will be added to Russia’s registry of banned websites. The measures are primarily aimed at Starlink terminals produced by Elon Musk’s company. Although the service does not officially operate in Russia, the terminals have continued to enter the country through unofficial channels in recent years, according to The Moscow Times on June 10.

Since April, Russia has already enforced a six-month ban on the import of satellite communication equipment that does not use Russian-assigned radio frequencies. The newly approved legislation extends those restrictions to cover domestic sales as well.

Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development said the measures formalize existing restrictions on equipment operating outside state regulation.

“Starlink were by default illegitimate on the territory of the Russian Federation. They did not in any way comply with the requirements for a satellite communication terminal, meaning no frequencies were allocated to them, the terminals themselves were not certified, and so on,” Sergey Pekhterev, founder of K-Internet, told Business FM.

According to Pekhterev, authorities had previously tolerated the presence of such terminals despite their unofficial status.

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Igor Bederyov, head of information and analytical research at T.Hunter, said the terminals operate outside Russia’s traffic monitoring system. “This is a question of digital sovereignty. Data transmitted from the country’s territory must comply with national laws,” he said.

Bederyov added that the main concern is the creation of communication channels beyond government oversight. Under Russian law, licensed telecommunications operators are required to route traffic through the System for Operative Investigative Activities (SORM), which enables state monitoring of communications.

Russia is also working to develop its own satellite communication networks. One of the leading projects is Rassvet, developed by Bureau 1440 and described as a Russian alternative to Starlink.

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“This is a certain protectionist logic aimed at developing our own market players. Unfortunately, without resorting to such tools, you probably cannot support your domestic developers,” said Pavel Myasoyedov, director of IT-Rezerv.

Meanwhile, Russia is exploring a system that would allow a limited group of “verified” users to retain mobile internet access during network shutdowns.

According to state news agency RIA Novosti on April 22, the proposal was put forward to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin by Dmitry Gusev, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Control. The initiative would classify users by verification status, granting continued connectivity to those considered “trusted” even as broader restrictions are enforced.

Under the plan, individuals whose phone numbers are linked to verified accounts on the government services portal Gosuslugi could be placed on a “white list,” allowing them to bypass mobile internet outages that have become increasingly common across the country.

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