Brigadier General Andrii Biletski, who commands about 12 percent of the 1,300km front line, stated that Russia's drone campaign in Ukraine has been cut by up to 40 percent. He attributed this to SpaceX switching off Starlink in Russian-held areas, which he described as having an enormous impact. 'After the blocking of Starlink for the Russians, the level of their efficiency compared to ours has sharply decreased, because Starlink is practically irreplaceable as a combat communication system,' Biletski said.
Ukraine's ministry of defence believes Moscow has lost almost every Starlink terminal it was using in its operations. The exact number of terminals lost is not known. Starlink units are the backbone of communications on both sides and are fitted to larger drones and Russian Shahed missiles.
After the blocking of Starlink for the Russians, the level of their efficiency compared to ours has sharply decreased, because Starlink is practically irreplaceable as a combat communication system.
Biletski noted that in the last two weeks, there has been a significant deterioration in the effectiveness of Russian strikes by about 20 to 40 percent. Ukraine has recaptured territory around Pokrovsk, north of Lyman, and near Huliaipole since Russia was denied Starlink access. The specific date of the block by Elon Musk has not been disclosed.
Biletski believes Russian forces will partially regain their efficiency within a month or two with other means, but never fully restore the level they had with Starlink in the foreseeable future.
Starlink can only be replaced with another Starlink. Therefore, the impact of Starlink on the current course of the war is enormous. In the last two weeks, there has been a significant deterioration in the effectiveness of Russian strikes, by about 20 to 40 percent.