SpaceX’s restriction of Starlink access for Russian troops has disrupted Moscow’s battlefield communications, slowing their offensives and enabling Ukrainian advances along critical frontlines.
Ukraine’s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov requested the measure after Russians fitted $400 terminals to drones for precise strikes up to 250 kilometres deep. From 1 February, SpaceX disabled unapproved devices, forcing re-registration even for civilians via a Defence Ministry whitelist.
This has crippled Russian command, logistics, and drones, pushing them to vulnerable radios and wires that Ukraine exploits more easily.
InformNapalm volunteers ran a Telegram phishing operation, duping over 2,425 Russians into exposing terminal sites from Crimea to Belarus and paying $5,000 in fake fees for Ukraine’s cause.
“When people started messaging us, we directed them to closed group chats,” said Mykhailo Makaruk, InformNapalm spokesman. “We wanted to show that it was top secret. They don’t trust each other anymore,” he added.
The Security Service flagged 30 potential collaborators, deeming such acts treason with long sentences.
Near Pokrovsk, drone operator Giovanni reported: “The Russians lost their ability to control the field.”
“I think they lost 50% of their capacity for offence,” he said. “That’s what the numbers show. Fewer assaults, fewer enemy drones, fewer everything.”
“I have no doubt they will adapt,” he warned.
Moscow claims negligible impact. Ex-officer Ivan Stupak predicts a brief window: “The Russian armoured forces on the ground are partly blind and partly deaf.”
“We could repulse Russian forces, regain our territory and then we could start this negotiation, but with new cards,” he said.
Russia seeks fixes, but the edge may not last.