Ukraine destroys Russian sea drones running on smuggled Starlink off Odesa
Russia is copying the naval-drone war Ukraine invented, and the smuggled Starlink terminals on its destroyed attack boats show it still has no control link of its own.
Russia is copying the naval-drone war Ukraine invented, and the smuggled Starlink terminals on its destroyed attack boats show it still has no control link of its own.
Russia tried to hit Ukraine's southwestern coast with a group of unmanned attack boats around 4 a.m. on June 23, and Ukrainian forces destroyed all of them at sea, Defense Ministry adviser Serhii Beskrestnov said. The Ukrainian Navy put the count at three, Militarnyi reported.
Every boat carried a Starlink terminal, Beskrestnov said, because Russia has no other way to steer a sea drone over the horizon. SpaceX's service is one reason Ukraine's own naval drones reach so far, and Russia lacks an equivalent jamming-resistant link, The Maritime Executive noted.
The terminals were obtained illicitly, bought through third countries, Beskrestnov said. Since February, SpaceX has tied Ukrainian terminals to government ID numbers and cut off the rest in the region, and Russian units keep trying to slip past that block, per the Maritime Executive.
Ukraine's cheap uncrewed boats drove Russia's Black Sea Fleet out of much of the western Black Sea. Russia is now catching up by copying that playbook, the Maritime Executive wrote, fielding a trials craft it calls the Skorlupa and reaching for the same American satellite link to control it.
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Subscribe Free →With SpaceX policing access by ID number since February, Russia's sea-drone campaign now rides on a smuggling chain that Kyiv and its allies are working to cut.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened off Ukraine's coast on June 23?
Russia attempted to strike Ukraine's southwestern coast near Odesa with several unmanned attack boats around 4 a.m., and Ukrainian forces detected and destroyed them at sea, Defense Ministry adviser Serhii Beskrestnov said. The Ukrainian Navy put the count at three, Militarnyi reported.
Why were the Russian boats fitted with Starlink?
Because Russia has no other long-range way to control a sea drone over the horizon, Beskrestnov said. SpaceX's Starlink provides the jamming-resistant link that Ukraine's own naval drones rely on, and Russia lacks an equivalent, The Maritime Executive noted.
How is Russia getting Starlink terminals?
Illicitly, by buying them through third countries, Beskrestnov said. Since February, SpaceX has tied Ukrainian terminals to government ID numbers and denied access to others in the region, and Russian units keep trying to bypass that, per the Maritime Executive.
Why does this matter?
It is a role reversal. Ukraine's uncrewed boats pushed Russia's Black Sea Fleet out of much of the western Black Sea; Russia is now copying that playbook with its own craft, which it calls the Skorlupa, and depending on smuggled American satellite links to run them, The Maritime Executive reported.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.