By John Q. Hosedrinker 
On January 24th, Russian forces allegedly utilized Starlink-guided Shahed attack drones near Kropyvnytskyi, targeting helicopters in the area. Technical analysis suggests the drones employed satellite-based connectivity for control, eliminating the need for traditional relay UAVs. These drones were flown at low altitudes to avoid radar detection, and video footage of the strike was released. If confirmed, this marks a significant advancement in Shahed drone deployment, enabling manual guidance over extended ranges and circumventing electronic-warfare countermeasures.
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Russia May Have Used Starlink-Guided Shahed Drones for the First Time, Ukrainian Official Says – Now that’s a headline that grabs your attention, doesn’t it? It immediately throws you into a world of conflict, technology, and some serious implications. According to a Ukrainian official, there’s a strong possibility that Russia has started using Starlink satellite internet to guide its Shahed attack drones. This is a pretty significant development, and it raises a whole lot of questions.
The core of the issue here is how these drones are being controlled. Apparently, the attack near Kropyvnytskyi, which targeted helicopters, seemed to indicate the drones weren’t relying on traditional methods, like radio relays, to stay on course. Instead, the data suggests that they were using satellite-based connectivity. The official, Serhii Beskrestnov, believes this points to the first documented use of Starlink to control these Shahed drones. It makes you wonder what kind of advantage this could provide.
Of course, using a system like Starlink for drone guidance opens up a new dimension of capabilities. It could allow for more precise control, real-time video feeds, and potentially extend the range of these attacks significantly. Beskrestnov also noted that the drones were flying at very low altitudes. This is likely an attempt to avoid radar detection, and the fact that these drones were potentially being guided by Starlink’s signal, highlights how Russia is constantly adapting its methods in this conflict.
Now, let’s talk about the Starlink side of things. It’s a satellite internet service, and it’s already used by many in Ukraine, including the military. The idea that Russia might be using it to guide their drones raises some thorny questions about the technology, its availability, and the potential for misuse. One of the main challenges here is how to restrict access to Starlink for bad actors. If someone can simply buy an antenna, pay for a subscription, and start using it, then there’s a problem.
The reality is that Russia seems to have figured out ways to procure the necessary equipment and access the network. This raises questions about how the system could be controlled and whether it’s truly geo-restricted. This is a complex situation, and it seems there isn’t a quick fix. One of the suggestions involves the Ukrainian government creating a list of approved Starlink users, then providing this list to SpaceX, the company behind Starlink, so they can block everyone else. That’s one possible solution.
However, the problem is not about the technicalities of the Starlink system itself. The main issue is that there’s a constant effort to find ways around any security measures. It is easy to find the workarounds, which means that the issue could potentially be solved by establishing stricter measures and regulations. But, given the many users, this could be a major undertaking.
It is really interesting that Starlink can geo-lock its products. Starlink has certainly been a valuable asset for Ukraine in this conflict. There is always going to be an attempt to use any available technology in a way that is beneficial. This is a challenging situation.
Given how many Ukrainians are using Starlink, creating a whitelisted list is a huge task. The only viable solution here is to collaborate between the Ukrainian government and Starlink itself. Even if all of the restrictions are bypassed, the proposed solution should significantly improve the situation.