The antenna of the Starlink satellite-based broadband system is seen in the snow in Bakhmut, Ukraine, on February 16, 2023. YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP via Getty Images
DOD: Russia’s use of Starlink will be a ‘continuous problem’ in Ukraine
The Pentagon and SpaceX have been working together to shut off Russia’s use of Starlink.
The Pentagon and SpaceX could be playing an unending game of whac-a-mole to identify and shut off Starlink satellite terminals obtained by Russia to use in Ukraine.
“I think this will be a continuous problem. We can continue to identify them and turn them off, but I think Russia will not stop" at trying to get more terminals, John Hill, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for space and missile defense, told the Senate Armed Services subcommittee on strategic forces Tuesday.
Russian forces have been buying Starlink through the black market, compromising Ukraine’s advantage. Since it's a commercial product, Russia can continue buying terminals as the Pentagon and SpaceX turns them off, and the U.S. is unlikely to geofence an area to block them because there might be Ukrainains trying to operate in that region.
SpaceX also markets a military version of Starlink, called Starshield, to the U.S. military, but that’s not currently available to Ukraine.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., pressed Hill about whether SpaceX has been cooperating with the Pentagon to help cut off Russia’s use of Starlink.
“Not only has SpaceX been very cooperative with the entire U.S. government and the government of Ukraine, they’ve been forward leaning in identifying and bringing information to us,” Hill said.
The Pentagon is working with SpaceX to address Russia’s use of Starlink through its commercial integration cell at U.S. Space Command, which allows commercial companies and the government to work together and share company proprietary information and classified information, Hill said.
The Pentagon has “developed strategies” with SpaceX to identify all the terminals that should be left on and which should be turned off, Hill said.
Warren and Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., have previously expressed concerns over Russia’s use of Starlink and Warren has pressed the Pentagon to ensure military contractors are held accountable for any exploitation of their technology by adversaries.