Russia is believed to have hijacked Starlink terminals being used in Ukraine. Lina – stock.adobe.com Russian forces had increasingly been using Starlink for weeks “to extend the range of BM-35 strike drones to conduct mid-range strikes against the Ukrainian rear,” according to the Institute of the Study of War. The use was in direct violation of SpaceX’s policy, with the company announcing in February 2024 that it did not sell or ship Starlink terminals to Russia and that it did not do any business with the Kremlin and its military. Musk had previously said that while militaries can use the technology, they are barred from using Starlink for offensive purposes. Russia’s forces are believed to have acquired the Starlink terminals by stealing and hijacking them from conquered Ukrainian territories. Starlink has been credited for supporting Ukraine following the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, with Fedorov hailing the technology as “critical” to Kyiv’s defenses. Filed under