Russia's secret weapon could threaten Ukraine's communications system

Starlink plays an important role for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia (Illustration photo: Getty).

The Washington Post, citing a recently leaked classified US intelligence document, said that Russia has spent months testing the Tobol electronic warfare system to disrupt Starlink operations.

SpaceX, the technology company of billionaire Elon Musk, has not commented on the information. Last year, Mr. Musk mentioned that Russia was trying to jam Starlink, but SpaceX's system was still resilient. Despite that, Russia seems to continue to increase its efforts to "jam and collect data."

Kostiantyn Zhura, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry , said that the country's authorities were taking measures to prevent Moscow's activities.

The Starlink communications system was developed by SpaceX. Since March last year, SpaceX has activated its Starlink satellite broadband service and sent about 20,000 devices to Ukraine, helping the country's military maintain communications on the battlefield, when Ukraine's mobile phone and internet networks were destroyed in the conflict.

With Starlink, Ukrainian forces on the front lines can post real-time videos , images, and information even when they are outside of cellular coverage areas, giving them greater flexibility in their operations. In addition, Starlink is immune to jamming, cyberattacks, or being shot down.

Last year, Musk hinted that he would stop providing free Starlink services to Ukraine. However, he later retracted the statement. "Even though Starlink is still losing money and other companies are receiving billions of dollars in taxpayer dollars, we will continue to provide free funding to the Ukrainian government ," Musk said last October.

Communications play an important role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but both sides are particularly concerned about the risk of enemy intrusion and data collection.

Ukraine is reportedly trying to block Russian intelligence gathering by using foreign language radio communications.

“The enemy uses radio communications in foreign languages to hinder the work of our intelligence agencies,” Andrey Marochko, a former pro-Russian separatist soldier in Lugansk, eastern Ukraine, said on April 19. He added that both common and uncommon foreign languages are used in Ukraine.

Securing communications is all the more important for Ukraine as its military prepares for a decisive counteroffensive.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that the current Ukrainian operations in the cities of Bakhmut, Mariinka, Lyman, Avdiivka can also be considered as part of the counteroffensive operation. She said that Kiev's counteroffensive operation depends on the capabilities of the army as well as information about the current state of Russian forces.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/vu-khi-bi-mat-cua-nga-co-the-de-doa-he-thong-lien-lac-cua-ukraine-20230419193535011.htm