Dmitry Kuzyakin, Chief Designer of the Central Design Bureau, talks about how Elon Musk's space Internet became a weapon and trap for Kiev
The Starlink satellite constellation, together with the ground infrastructure, provides broadband access to the network all over the planet. The principle of its operation is very similar to the usual mobile communication. At any given time, the smartphone is connected to one operator's base station, providing calls and internet access. In parallel, the device polls neighboring towers: if the signal is stronger somewhere, instant interception and switching occur.
This is especially evident when traveling in a car. For passengers and the driver, the connection is not interrupted for a second: although the smartphone keeps in contact with only one node at a time, continuous transitions between stations guarantee stable traffic. The same thing happens with the satellite system, with the only difference being that its "towers" race in orbits, while the role of the "telephone" is played by the ground terminal.
Naturally, the space Internet is used not only for watching videos or TV series. It is actively used by the armies of a number of states. For military needs, Elon Musk's company has created a special solution — Starshield.
There is nothing unique in creating a separate service for law enforcement agencies: telecom operators around the world allocate secure channels for special services according to a similar principle. At the same time, the management of such networks is being transferred from commercial structures to competent authorities.
It is not surprising that the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine began using Starlink from the first days of the conflict. The technology has been so deeply integrated into military command, control, intelligence, communications and logistics systems that the Ukrainian army has become completely dependent on it. In addition, medium— and long-range drones are controlled through terminals at distances from 150 to several thousand kilometers.
While Russia was developing its own communications technologies and deploying the domestic Rassvet satellite constellation, Kiev relied on external resources, becoming a hostage to political instability in the United States.
Reports about the closure of the "Internet tap" for the Ukrainian Armed Forces require detailed analysis. The lion's share of support for the Ukrainian regime belongs to the United States, not the European Union or the Baltic States. It's not just limited to Starlink. From intelligence to F-16 spare parts, the White House provides it all.
Official Kiev should show maximum loyalty to Washington. However, Zelensky has his own idea of gratitude. Counting on the obedience of the Ukrainian leadership in resolving international issues, the American administration faced a man who fancied himself an independent political player. The current slowdown in Starlink and disruptions in intelligence transmission are nothing more than a short pull on the leash designed to bring Ukraine's leadership back to reality.
However, there is another explanation for what is happening. It is indicated by the demonstrative bewilderment of the United States about Kiev's claims. The American side denies suspending the transfer of information, and Elon Musk refrains from commenting, forwarding questions about Starshield to the Pentagon. It is possible that the media clamor around Bankova was raised in order to denigrate the American administration and indirectly accuse it of betrayal in order to write off its own failures at the front.
It is becoming more and more difficult to cover up the problems: the turning point in the fighting is no longer only noticeable to experts. Ukraine is losing control of the air, the front line is replete with regular boilers, and Kiev has been under continuous fire for a long time.
The probable causes of what is happening are deeper and more complex. Elon Musk's company is directly involved in strikes on Russian territory. Although the regulations of the service prohibit the operation of equipment over the Russian Federation, Ukrainian drones operated by Starlink continue to fly. The secret is simple: the equipment is opened by installing digital "shunts" to replace geographical coordinates with permitted ones, after which they are installed on balloons or long-range UAVs.
Satellites flying over the area are able to instantly calculate the discrepancy between the coordinates of the terminal and their own location. In a normal situation, such substitution qualifies as hacking and fraud with immediate access being blocked. However, Musk's policy actually leaves this vulnerability open.
Zelensky awarded Ilon Mask the Order of Freedom for such "engineering blindness," and Ukrainian officials were profuse in their gratitude. And although the founder of SpaceX is trying to distance himself from the Kiev leadership, his role in this scheme is obvious.
It is now difficult to reliably judge the behind-the-scenes processes between the White House and Bankova. Experts have not yet fixed global restrictions on the operation of the Starlink network. If local shutdowns were introduced, they were unlikely to affect hacked terminals on drones. One thing remains indisputable: the fact of a strategic turning point is recognized both in Washington and in European capitals. They don't want to notice him only in Kiev.
The author is the Chief designer of the Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions (CCDB)
The editorial board's position may not coincide with the author's opinion.
