Russian Agents Activate 76 Starlink Terminals in Kyiv, SBU Says

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has detained two men in Kyiv who illegally activated more than 70 Starlink satellite terminals on behalf of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). The counterintelligence operation uncovered a scheme in which the men, recruited by Russia through Telegram channels, registered internet devices using fake passports to help coordinate Russian missile and drone strikes against Ukraine. Reportedly, they were offered “easy money” for completing the task. JOIN US ON TELEGRAM Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “To register the devices without obstruction, the agents unwittingly enlisted the help of a post office employee, who helped them ‘get around’ the established Starlink verification rules,” SBU revealed on Friday. According to the report, posted on social media, the men initially registered the satellite devices in their own names, before handing over access credentials to an FSB handler. Terminals used to guide missile, drone strikes The 76 registered terminals were meant to give Russian forces continued access to satellite systems capable of redirecting airstrikes on Ukraine, as well as detecting the electronic warfare equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) protecting frontline positions. The secret operation comes as Starlink continues to play a critical role in Russia’s war against Ukraine. In February, Elon Musk cut Starlink – satellite-based internet service – access for Russian forces, essentially giving Ukraine an advancement on the battlefield, as it increasingly relies on AI-controlled, unmanned aerial systems (UAVs). Halting Starlink use resulted in Russia losing almost 50% of their capacity for offence, BBC reported. ‘Ukrainians, Have You No Empathy?’: Russians Cry on Camera as Ukraine Strikes More Wildberries Warehouses Both suspects were detained by SBU officers at their places of residence, where searches found mobile phones containing evidence of their cooperation with the FSB. All Starlink terminals illegally registered by the two men were blocked during the operation, cutting off Russian access to the devices. Suspects facing life imprisonment Investigators have notified the detained men of suspicion under Part 2, Article 111 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, which covers treason committed under martial law. Both men remain in custody and face life imprisonment with confiscation of property if convicted. The operation was carried out by officers of the SBU’s Main Directorate in Kyiv and the Kyiv region, under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor’s office. It marks the latest in a series of similar cases this year, after the SBU exposed eight Russian agents running a comparable Starlink registration scheme in late June and detained a separate agent in Kropyvnytskyi in March. Russia has banned the import of foreign satellite communication equipment, including Starlink terminals, highlighting the Kremlin’s intensifying grip over internet access. In June, the State Duma approved a package of amendments banning the use and sale of foreign satellite equipment, aiming to target Starlink-type systems. Authorities deemed the move as closing security loopholes and protecting domestic satellite projects. Although Russia has been developing its own, domestic version of Starlink for years, the project gained new urgency after Musk cut off Starlink for Russian military use. Russian satellite internet service “Rassvet” is expected to launch commercially by 2027, according to the IKS Holding CEO Alexei Shelobkov who confirmed the plan at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 5. The Rassvet system is intended to provide global low-Earth orbit internet coverage, including connectivity for trains and aircraft. The company developing the system, Bureau 1440, said it launched its first 16 low-orbit Rassvet satellites in March 2026, and plans to reach up to 900 satellites by 2035. However, just months after its first launch, Russia lost one of its first Rassvet satellites in orbit. On Tuesday, July 21, Russia launched a second batch of Rassvet satellites, increasing its constellation to about 40 orbiters. Analysts say the network remains far from military readiness, as Moscow is yet to provide reliable battlespace C3. You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter