Ukraine Exploits Russian Starlink Blackout to Push Offensive, WSJ Reports
The disruption left Russian units struggling to coordinate, reducing drone pressure and creating openings Ukrainian forces were able to exploit.
Kyiv Post
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Ukrainian forces have made their most significant territorial gains in more than two years after Russian troops lost access to the Starlink satellite internet system, disrupting battlefield communications and coordination, according to a report.
The shift has allowed Kyiv to go on the offensive in parts of the front, particularly in southern Ukraine, where Russian advances had previously been accelerating.
A recent Wall Street Journal report has revisited the battlefield dynamics, drawing on interviews with Ukrainian soldiers and analysts to assess its impact on recent battlefield developments.
Starlink cutoff disrupts Russian coordination
Russia’s loss of Starlink access in February significantly degraded its ability to coordinate troops and drone operations.
SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, introduced a system that restricted Starlink access to approved users, allowing Ukrainian forces to retain connectivity while cutting off Russian units.
As a result, Russian commanders lost access to real-time battlefield video and secure communications, forcing them to rely on less effective alternatives.
“Without Starlink, they were basically pushed back to Cold War-era communications,” said a Ukrainian soldier with the call sign Konosh.
Ukraine regains territory in the south
Following the disruption, Ukrainian forces regained roughly 400 sqaure km (about 150 square miles) of territory in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, marking Kyiv’s largest domestic gains in more than two years. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Oleksandr Syrsky had already cited similar figures in late February.
Russian attacks have caused new power outages across multiple regions of Ukraine.
February was the first month since 2023 in which Ukraine reclaimed more territory than it lost, according to open-source analysts cited in the report.
President Zelensky, however, has argued that the recent gains in the south were already underway before Russia lost access to Starlink.
“The operation in the south... began a month before the decision regarding Starlink,” he said, adding that the two developments should not be seen as directly linked.
While Russia still maintains an overall advantage along the front, including a numerical edge in troop numbers, Ukrainian advances have provided a boost after months of relative stagnation.
Drop in drone threat and battlefield pressure
Front-line soldiers reported a noticeable decline in Russian drone activity after the loss of Starlink connectivity.
“Before, if the enemy spotted our group, even a single soldier, they wouldn’t let him go. They would throw everything at him,” said Oleksiy Serdiuk, commander of the Brotherhood unit of Ukraine’s Timur Special Forces.
After the disruption, delays in communication between Russian commanders and drone operators created gaps that Ukrainian forces were able to exploit.
“That gap between detecting the target and reacting has become critical for them,” Serdiuk said.
Ukrainian troops said Russian forces were forced to rely more heavily on radio communications, which could be intercepted.
“We started hearing direct instructions in the radio traffic... Sometimes we heard a day ahead,” said a signals intelligence specialist.
This allowed Ukrainian units to anticipate Russian movements and launch counterattacks, including small-group operations targeting rear positions.
“It gave us a real advantage – we were able to exploit weaknesses at a moment when their system of control was destabilized,” said a Ukrainian company commander with the call sign Luna.
Loss of control inside Russian units
The loss of Starlink also affected command and control within Russian units, reducing oversight of frontline troops.
According to Ukrainian soldiers, Russian commanders had previously relied on Starlink to monitor positions and coordinate movements in real time.
“With Starlink, they tightly controlled units... Without it, those soldiers are isolated,” said an officer from Ukraine’s Russian Volunteer Corps.
Ukrainian forces reported that some Russian troops were left without clear instructions or awareness of the broader situation on the battlefield.
Russia seeks alternatives to restore communications
Russian forces have attempted to compensate for the loss of Starlink by laying communication cables between positions, using short-range wireless networks and turning to alternative satellite systems, including Russian and Chinese services.
However, these solutions have proven less effective.
Analysts say Russian coordination has recovered to only about 60% of previous levels.
“Russian forces try to adapt by employing mesh networks and modems, but Starlink was a cheap and effective solution,” said Michael Kofman, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Additional complications stem from internal disagreements over communication systems, with the Kremlin pushing troops to abandon Telegram in favor of a state-backed platform.
“Problems will arise in coordinating work between groups... at the lowest tactical levels,” said Ukrainian Defense Ministry adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov.
Strategic impact on the battlefield
Ukrainian partisans have confirmed that the loss of Starlink access has crippled Russian battlefield command and led to incidents of friendly fire.
The Atesh movement reported some units have been left without effective communication, with command structures described as “effectively paralyzed.”
Ukrainian officials and analysts said the disruption of Russian communications has played a key role in enabling Kyiv’s recent gains.
Although Russian forces continue to hold advantages in manpower and resources, the loss of Starlink has exposed vulnerabilities in command, coordination and battlefield awareness.
The developments highlight the growing importance of satellite internet systems in modern warfare – and the significant impact of their availability on the course of the conflict.
Korbinian Leo Kramer is currently a correspondent for the Kyiv Post, reporting from both Central Europe and the frontline regions of Ukraine. He previously worked as a freelance journalist and photographer across eastern Ukraine, covering the human and social dimensions of Russia’s fullscale invasion. His reporting focuses on resilience, everyday life, and the realities of war.
