Russia still using black market Starlink terminals on its drones
In its war with the Ukraine, it appears Russia is still managing to obtain black market Starlink mini-terminals for use on its drones, despite an effort since 2024 to block access.
According to Defense Express on November 30, imagery has emerged showing what appears to be a Russian “Molniya”-type drone fitted with a mini-Starlink unit, reportedly observed near the Pokrovsk sector in eastern Ukraine. The configuration—an off-the-shelf satellite internet terminal strapped to a drone—suggests improvised but functional integration, consistent with past sightings. The drone’s design and power unit indicate it is of Russian origin, likely a variation of the Molniya unmanned aerial vehicle, which is known for its low-cost, modular construction.
The use of Starlink terminals on Russian drones was first publicly reported in early 2024. Since then, Ukrainian forces have documented multiple instances of their use, including on Shahed-136 drones and larger UAVs such as the RD-8 “mothership” drone, which is reportedly capable of controlling other loitering munitions using satellite connectivity. The main concern raised by Ukrainian defense observers is that Starlink-based control enables extended-range communications, allowing Russian drones to conduct reconnaissance or strike missions far from ground-based operators.
SpaceX has made no comment on this issue. According to the article, the Ukraine is “exploring alternative European satellite providers in response, seeking more secure and controllable communications infrastructure for military operations.” While switching to another satellite provider might allow the Ukraine to shut Starlink down and prevent the Russians from using it within its territory, doing so would likely do more harm to the Ukraine’s military effort than Russia’s. There isn’t really any other service comparable at this time. And when Amazon’s Leo system comes on line it will face the same black market issues. I doubt it will have any more success than SpaceX in preventing Russia from obtaining its terminals.
Overall this issue is probably not a serious one militarily, however. Russia is not likely capable of obtaining enough black market terminals to make any significant difference on the battlefield.
This story however highlights a positive aspect of these new constellations. Just as Russia can’t be prevented from obtaining black market terminals, neither can the oppressed citizens in totalitarian nations like Russia and China be blocked as well. These constellations as designed act to defeat the censorship and information control of such nations, a very good thing.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
In its war with the Ukraine, it appears Russia is still managing to obtain black market Starlink mini-terminals for use on its drones, despite an effort since 2024 to block access.
According to Defense Express on November 30, imagery has emerged showing what appears to be a Russian “Molniya”-type drone fitted with a mini-Starlink unit, reportedly observed near the Pokrovsk sector in eastern Ukraine. The configuration—an off-the-shelf satellite internet terminal strapped to a drone—suggests improvised but functional integration, consistent with past sightings. The drone’s design and power unit indicate it is of Russian origin, likely a variation of the Molniya unmanned aerial vehicle, which is known for its low-cost, modular construction.
The use of Starlink terminals on Russian drones was first publicly reported in early 2024. Since then, Ukrainian forces have documented multiple instances of their use, including on Shahed-136 drones and larger UAVs such as the RD-8 “mothership” drone, which is reportedly capable of controlling other loitering munitions using satellite connectivity. The main concern raised by Ukrainian defense observers is that Starlink-based control enables extended-range communications, allowing Russian drones to conduct reconnaissance or strike missions far from ground-based operators.
SpaceX has made no comment on this issue. According to the article, the Ukraine is “exploring alternative European satellite providers in response, seeking more secure and controllable communications infrastructure for military operations.” While switching to another satellite provider might allow the Ukraine to shut Starlink down and prevent the Russians from using it within its territory, doing so would likely do more harm to the Ukraine’s military effort than Russia’s. There isn’t really any other service comparable at this time. And when Amazon’s Leo system comes on line it will face the same black market issues. I doubt it will have any more success than SpaceX in preventing Russia from obtaining its terminals.
Overall this issue is probably not a serious one militarily, however. Russia is not likely capable of obtaining enough black market terminals to make any significant difference on the battlefield.
This story however highlights a positive aspect of these new constellations. Just as Russia can’t be prevented from obtaining black market terminals, neither can the oppressed citizens in totalitarian nations like Russia and China be blocked as well. These constellations as designed act to defeat the censorship and information control of such nations, a very good thing.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Aye, there’s the rub.
This ignores the fact that both sides have heavily moved to fiber-optic guided drones due to the increased effectiveness of electronic counter measures by both sides.
Fact, the war is already over, the deep state, NGOs, neocons and Ukronazis are scrambling to steal as much as they can before they head to their villas overseas.
Related: Shallow MR:
https://youtube.com/shorts/bzYy4JswKw0?si=L4qW0Fv7tdtJgLNz
Fiber optic guided drones have a very short range, under 15 miles. Shaheed and the like travel hundreds of miles, sometimes even thousands. Needless to say, a cable is impractical over that distance.
Shallow Minded Reader,
The Russo-Ukraine War is grinding toward a conclusion alright, but not one that features a Russian victory. One would think that after nearly four years of perpetually breathless claims that Russia will crush Ukraine Real Soon Now, the Russophile amen corner would get a clue – but no.
There are certainly those within the current administration – perhaps even Trump himself – who seem bent on handing Putin some sort of mingy “victory” as the price of getting the killing to stop – at least temporarily. But Ukraine seems capable of continuing the war more or less indefinitely even if the US ceases aid entirely and thus has no obligation to bow to any external force, be that American or Russian. Given that any withdrawal of American aid would simply lengthen the conflict without changing the long-term outcome – Ukrainian victory – the killing would not diminish. Given that the considerable preponderance of the dying is being done by Russians, this is a perfectly satisfactory state of affairs from a Ukrainian perspective, even if hardly ideal.
In the meantime, Ukraine will continue its relentless piecemeal deconstruction of the Russian military-industrial complex and its incremental de-industrialization of Russia more generally. As Adam Smith famously said, “there’s a lot of ruin in a nation.” We seem to be in the process of finding out exactly how much ruin there is remaining in Russia. I suspect the answer will prove to be about another 12 to 18 months-worth.
What those cables do is prevent jamming that harms friend and foe alike…and they can drop the cable and take a chance the other guy quits jamming so his own equipment works.
Then too, you can just firehouse bullets behind the path of the drones.
There has been a finding that may yet bear fruit somehow:
https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-serendipitous-reveals-airplanes-discharge-static.html
Perhaps this can improve targeting.
@Contour, your youtuber is wearing a front pouch that says US IFLAK. Consider your source propaganda spun by the side that is loosing big. Dick, you’ve been inhaling the fumes of too many MIC lobbyists.
Shallow Minded Reader,
Yes, the Ukrainians have been “losing big” for nearly four years now and are stronger and more effective than ever while Big Bad Momma Russia has been reduced to fielding scrapyard retread vehicles and reverting to donkey-back, horseback and guys-with-backpacks field logistics. It isn’t the Ukies who are losing 1,000 or more men per week in futile meat-wave assaults. What the vultures and kites of Ukraine are going to do for a square meal once the last Russian troopie is scragged by a Uke FPV drone is something that should concern every nature lover.
I live an entire continent away from DC and its fumy lobbyists. The MIC, in any case, are also known as NASA legacy contractors. Even a casual reading of my comments here should readily demonstrate my long-standing low opinion of that gang of idiots.
The US MIC, save perhaps for the subset of it in the tactical missile and artillery shell business, is not exactly battening on the Russo-Ukraine War in any case. Most of what aid has been provided has been in the form of hardware bought decades ago and in storage more recently. The Ukrainians are saving us the expense of further storage as well as the even greater expense of decommissioning and scrapping the stuff. Belatedly, such weapons are now serving exactly the purpose for which they were originally built and bought – dealing death to invading Russians. Better late than never.
Starlink has pretty tight control over terminal locations —under 1/2 mile— so Russian forces with black-market terminals have to be in or very close to Ukraine-approved space. Terminals outside approved areas are simply ignored, leaving them without any connectivity.
The challenge for Ukraine is keeping Starlink accurately informed of its true boundaries and in real-time. There’s a lag from getting the information from Ukraine authorities and Starling reprogramming the satellite swarm to the new boundary lines.
I have heard that last month is the first month that Ukraine has fired more total drones into Russia then Russia fired back. And they are upping their drone production.
Ukraine is now hitting further inside Russia than the other way around.
For the first year Ukraine is targeting infrastructure inside Russia. Its going to be a very cold winter for Russian civilians.
North Koreans 105mm shells sent into Russia have, by Russian commanders radio comments, a near 50% fail rate. In some cases even exploding inside the howitzers. Russia is running out of artillery.
Last year(2025) Russia had almost 50000 convictions for desertion. Russia kills deserters for the most part.
I have also found out the Putin is selling off gold to Russian Oligarchs in exchange for Russian cash.
Instead of devaluing the Russian ruble by printing more. His next desperate move will be to start printing cash by the ton.
By selling gold to oligarchs he is essentially giving them the power to bribe their way out of Russia taking their wealth with them.