The Kremlin has denied reports that the Russian military is communicating using Starlink satellites in waters controlled by the Russian military in the Ukraine war zone.
"That system has not been tested by us. Therefore, we have not and will not provide it to the front line. We cannot use this equipment anyway," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on February 12 about the information that Russian soldiers used Starlink satellite communication equipment on the front line.
Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate of the Military (GUR) on February 11 accused units of Russia's 83rd Guards Assault Airborne Brigade, operating south of the city of Bakhmut, of using Starlink terminals.
Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications previously said that Russia was "systematically" deploying Starlink satellite communications equipment on the front line. The equipment was purchased through third countries and resold by agents in Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov at a meeting in Moscow on December 7, 2023. Photo: AFP
Mr. Peskov said that information about Starlink appearing on the battlefield but not in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers was "a private debate between Kiev and billionaire Elon Musk." He affirmed that Moscow did not want to interfere in the above issue.
Elon Musk on February 11 affirmed that his company has never directly or indirectly sold Starlinks to Russia. "The information that SpaceX sold Starlink terminals to Russia is completely false," he said.
SpaceX, the company that provides the Starlink satellite internet service, said it does not cooperate with the Russian government or armed forces. SpaceX vowed to disable the terminals “if they are used by any unauthorized party.”
After the war with Russia broke out in February 2022, Starlink's service helped Ukraine maintain Internet connectivity and normal operations, allowing its soldiers to communicate more easily on the front line, partly supporting the operations of weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Ukrainian soldiers use Starlink satellite equipment in Kreminna on January 6, 2023. Photo: Reuters
Western experts say Russia has tried to cut off the connection of Starlink devices but has not been successful.
The document said Russia tested the Tobol-1 system in Ukraine for 25 days in September 2022. The Ukrainian military reported a disruption to the Starlink satellite internet system in October 2022, but it is unclear whether the incident was caused by the Tobol-1 complex or another Russian jamming system.
Thanh Danh (According to Reuters )
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