Why is Ukraine whitelisting Starlink terminals?

Ukraine is whitelisting Starlink terminals to prevent the Russian military from accessing the service through unauthorized means, particularly on drones.

How will the Starlink whitelist work in Ukraine?

Only verified and registered Starlink terminals will be allowed to operate in Ukraine, with all unverified terminals being disabled.

What is Russia reportedly doing with Starlink dishes?

Russia has reportedly been sourcing Starlink dishes from foreign markets and equipping drones with them to conduct attacks within Ukraine.

Home / War and Conflict / Ukraine Whitelists Starlink, Citing Russian Drone Use

Ukraine Whitelists Starlink, Citing Russian Drone Use

3 Feb

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Summary

Ukraine is whitelisting Starlink terminals to block Russian military access.
Russia has been using Starlink dishes on drones for attacks.
Unregistered Starlink terminals will be disabled soon in Ukraine.

Ukraine Whitelists Starlink, Citing Russian Drone Use

Ukraine is set to implement a whitelist for Starlink satellite internet terminals, a decisive measure aimed at preventing the Russian military from accessing the service via smuggled dishes. This action follows repeated instances of Russian forces exploiting SpaceX's Starlink system.

Recently, Russia has equipped drones with Starlink dishes, enabling them to conduct hundreds of attacks within Ukrainian territory. SpaceX and the Pentagon have attempted to curb this unauthorized use. Elon Musk indicated that recent steps taken by SpaceX have been effective in stopping Russia's illicit access.

Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov confirmed that Ukraine's government has adopted a resolution to impose the whitelist. He emphasized that this verification process is the primary technical solution to counteract Russian drone usage. The registration for civilian and business terminals is slated to begin soon, with unverified terminals facing disconnection.