Russian military units in Ukraine are reportedly leveraging Starlink satellite internet terminals, a product of Elon Musk's SpaceX, to facilitate communication and coordinate attacks in the regions of eastern Ukraine and Crimea.
These terminals are also used on the battlefield to control drones and other military technologies.
BERLIN, GERMANY DECEMBER 01: SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrives on the red carpet for the Axel Springer Award 2020 on December 01, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo: Hannibal Hanschke-Pool/Getty Images)
Black Market Network for Starlink Terminals
Despite the ban on Starlink devices in Russia, a thriving black market network has emerged, allowing these terminals to reach Russian forces.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the intricate operations of black market sellers who smuggle the terminals into the country and ensure their delivery to the front lines.
Surprisingly, some of these terminals were originally purchased on eBay, indicating a complex supply chain facilitating their illegal distribution. Reports suggest that the illicit trade of Starlink terminals extends from occupied Ukraine to Sudan.
Sudanese dealers are reportedly involved in reselling units to the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group implicated in various atrocities, including ethnically motivated killings, abuse of human rights activists, sexual violence, and the destruction of communities.
Hundreds of these terminals have reportedly been distributed among the Rapid Support Forces members.
Musk's Response, Congressional Scrutiny
In February, Elon Musk responded to prior claims alleging that Russian soldiers had been using Starlink terminals in the conflict with Ukraine, stating that no Starlinks had been sold directly or indirectly to Russia.
The Kremlin also denied these allegations However, despite these assertions, "thousands of the white pizza-box-sized devices" have reportedly made their way to "some American adversaries and accused war criminals."
Following these reports in February, House Democrats have called on Musk to take action, expressing concerns that the Russian military's use of the technology could potentially violate US sanctions and export controls, as reported by Business Insider.
Notably, Starlink can deactivate individual terminals, and each device is equipped with geofencing technology intended to prevent unauthorized usage in specific countries.
Nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether black market sellers can circumvent these safeguards.
House Democrats are pressing for action from Musk amid revelations about the use of Starlink technology. Musk has taken measures to restrict Ukraine's access to the technology, citing that the terminals were not intended for military use.
Reports indicate that Musk previously blocked Ukraine's utilization of Starlink near Crimea, effectively halting the country's plans for a naval fleet attack.
This move drew criticism from Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who condemned Musk's decision, attributing civilian casualties to it and criticizing Musk's perceived ignorance and ego.
In response, Musk refuted these claims, asserting that Starlink was never operational in the vicinity of Crimea and, therefore, there was no action to disable it.
He clarified that the policy was established before Ukraine's planned naval fleet attack. Furthermore, Ukraine encountered a setback in the conflict's early stages when it lost access to over 1,300 Starlink terminals due to payment issues.
Reports indicate that SpaceX imposed a monthly fee of $2,500 per terminal, totaling $3.25 million monthly, consistent with the company's premium pricing structure.
However, it's important to note that SpaceX has contributed over 3,600 terminals to Ukraine as part of its support efforts.
