Although the Russian army no longer has access to Starlink, the tankers from Moscow’s „shadow fleet” continue to use this system. Kiev is calling on SpaceX to intervene.
Two Ukrainian sailors, as well as two other sources who have worked on board ships transporting Russian oil, have confirmed that the vessels and their owners communicate using Western technology, including satellite phones and Starlink terminals, according to an investigation conducted by Kiev Independent.
"It could be purchased through an intermediary company. As far as I know, it's difficult to buy a Starlink in Ukraine right now. In other parts of the world, you can simply order it and have it delivered by mail. It's not a weapon, anyone can buy it," one of the sources said.
Following the publication of the investigative report, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the representative of the Ukrainian president for sanctions policy, stated that SpaceX - the American company operating Starlink - must take action to stop it.
"Any activity of Russia's shadow fleet effectively finances the war against Ukraine. If Starlink is used to evade sanctions or circumvent maritime safety rules, this is unacceptable," he told the publication cited.
"Russia deliberately uses GPS signal falsification to conceal its ships, disrupting navigation systems and endangering other vessels. In this context, relying on Starlink for their own operations is deeply hypocritical. We expect SpaceX to carefully examine this issue and take measures to prevent the use of Starlink by shadow fleets of any country, including Russia, Venezuela, or Iran," added the Ukrainian official.
Russian forces have long used unauthorized access to operate drones and other military equipment in the occupied areas of Ukraine since the war began.
Russian troops' access to Starlink was cut off last month after the Ukrainian government, in cooperation with SpaceX, introduced a mandatory registration system.
The decision had a significant impact on the front. The pace of the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine slowed down shortly after SpaceX introduced a verification system for Starlink terminals and blocked unauthorized devices. Ukraine is now calling for the same measure for the ships that Russia uses to finance its war.
T.D.