Ukraine regrets Starlink malfunction during Kharkiv offensive initiation.
A Ukrainian military unit based in the Kharkiv region relied on Starlink communication service to control their drones. However, during the initial stages of the Russian offensive, the system suddenly stopped functioning for every device within the unit. This was a significant setback for the Ukrainian defenders.
As per a news report from the Washington Post, quoting members of the 125th Territorial Defense Brigade, all Starlink devices within the military unit became non-functional on May 10, coinciding with the start of the Russian advance into the region. The sources revealed that the issue with the satellite communication system led to quick territorial gains by the Russian soldiers.
"We were blindsided at a certain point," said a commander of the 125th Brigade's drone unit to the US newspaper. "The biggest problem was that we couldn't see them move. We could only communicate through radio or our phones that were still working." The drone connection had just suddenly disappeared. This brigade had frequently employed drones for surveillance during the prior days to monitor the Russian soldiers' movements.
Russian electronic warfare systems are believed to be responsible for the Starlink disruption, marking the first widespread failure of the satellite communication system in Ukraine since the commencement of the Russian invasion in spring 2022.
Moscow's forces have pushed forward up to ten kilometers into the Kharkiv region in recent times. Yet, as per Ukrainian reports, the front has been consolidated now. The overall commander, Oleksandr Syrskyj, acknowledged that "tough fights" could be expected.
Starlink is operated by Elon Musk's aerospace company, SpaceX, and plays a vital role in Ukraine's communication. The government, army, aid organizations, and civilians all rely on the system. The Ukrainian military uses it to control drones and correct artillery fire.
Still, Ukrainian military personnel have earlier voiced concerns about communication lapses. Early in 2023, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell shared that measures were being taken to preclude Ukraine from using the system for drone control. She also emphasized that the network wasn't designed for such use. In the meantime, Russian troops in the Ukrainian-occupied regions are employing Starlink devices as well.
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Despite Elon Musk's SpaceX operating Starlink, which is crucial for Ukraine's communication, including drone control and artillery correction, an 'Attack on Ukraine' by Russia may have disrupted its functioning during the Kharkiv offensive. According to reports, Starlink devices within a Ukrainian military unit became non-functional on May 10, allegedly due to Russian electronic warfare systems, leading to territorial gains by Russian soldiers.
Source: www.ntv.de
