Number of Russian assaults on front decreases after Starlink access blocked for Russians
Russian forces have reduced the number of their assault operations on the front line following an agreement between Ukraine and SpaceX to block unregistered Starlink satellite internet terminals.
Source: Radio Liberty, citing sources in the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Details: Sources told the media outlet that the number of Russian assaults has decreased in some areas, while attacks have stopped altogether in other sectors.
According to the General Staff's report as of 16:00 on 5 February, Ukrainian forces had recorded 56 combat clashes along the front line since the beginning of the day.
Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, a military radio technology expert, reported that Russian forces experienced a mass outage of Starlink terminals on 5 February. The Russians are complaining that they are unable to restore connectivity and that this will affect coordination of their actions along the entire front line.
Background:
- On 25 January, Beskrestnov, who became an adviser to Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on technology matters, stated that Russian forces were likely using Starlink satellite internet on Shahed loitering munitions.
- US businessman Elon Musk responded to Fedorov's request for help in addressing the use of Starlink on Russian strike UAVs.
- It later became known that SpaceX had taken countermeasures against the use of Starlink satellite internet on Russian strike UAVs.
- On 1 February, Musk noted that measures against Russia's unauthorised use of Starlink had likely produced results.
- Fedorov reported the gradual rollout of a system that will allow only authorised Starlink terminals to operate on the territory of Ukraine.
- The Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution to introduce a "white list" for Starlink satellite terminals. Soon, only verified and registered terminals will operate in Ukraine; all others will be disconnected.
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