Russia reveals secret weapon to hit SpaceX Starlink satellite in Ukraine
Russia is trying to block the access of Ukrainian troops to the Internet via Starlink satellite communications.
Source: The Washington Post with reference to a secret US intelligence report
Details: According to information available to the publication, Moscow has been experimenting with its Tobol electronic warfare systems for months in an attempt to disrupt Starlink data transmission in Ukraine.
According to the conclusions, it is noted that the program, “allegedly designed to protect the Kremlin’s satellites, can be used to attack the satellites used by its opponents.”
SpaceX, which owns Starlink, declined to comment. Last spring, Musk briefly commented on the Kremlin’s attempts to attack the technology, noting that while Starlink has demonstrated its resilience to such “jamming and hacking” attempts, the Russians appear to be stepping up their efforts.
Konstantin Zhura, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, said officials in Kyiv are aware of Russia’s efforts and “are taking steps to neutralize them.” The Russian Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
The publication recalls that Starlink has proven vital to the Ukrainian military, who rely on them to communicate on the battlefield and transmit intelligence data. As Russian troops disable other means of communication, including radios and mobile phones, satellite signals are harder to kill.
It remains unclear whether the disruptions to Starlink reported in Ukraine were the result of Russian experiments with Tobol or other jamming devices such as Tirada-2.
Ukrainian forces reported communications disruptions in October as they advanced towards Russian positions during successful counter-offensives in the south and east. There was speculation at the time that SpaceX had restricted internet access in those areas to prevent Russians from using it.
Analysts have found at least seven Tobol complexes in Russia, all located near facilities used to track satellites.
While Russia’s deployment of Tobol complexes across the country may indicate they are being used for defense purposes, the three sites cited in the U.S. intelligence assessment – one near Moscow, one near Crimea, and one in Kaliningrad – are the closest to Ukraine. , which makes them suitable for attacking Ukrainian communications.
