Russian frontline units are grappling with a severe communications crisis triggered by restricted access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system and Kremlin-led repressions against the Telegram messaging app.
According to Bloomberg, the disruption began in early February when SpaceX moved to block the unauthorized use of Starlink terminals by Russian forces. Reports indicate that thousands of these devices had been smuggled into the combat zone to manage troop movements and coordinate drone strikes. Following the blackout, communication within several units reportedly collapsed. Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, confirmed that authorized Ukrainian terminals continue to operate normally and expressed gratitude to SpaceX for their swift intervention.
A second blow followed shortly after from Moscow’s own regulators. On February 10, the Russian watchdog Roskomnadzor imposed new restrictions on Telegram, citing the messenger’s failure to comply with national legislation. This move has caused significant distress among soldiers who rely almost exclusively on the app for battlefield coordination.
Pro-Kremlin military bloggers reacted sharply to the developments. "Elon Musk flipped the switch, and our communications are in chaos," one wrote. Another military correspondent described the throttling of Telegram as the "funeral of command-and-control capabilities."
Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) observed that Ukrainian forces have already launched several successful counterattacks, capitalizing on the enemy’s disorganization. The impact has been particularly acute for Russian drone operations, which experts estimate account for approximately 60% of all fire damage inflicted on the front.
Ukrainian intelligence has issued a warning to citizens, noting that Russia is attempting to recruit Ukrainians—including relatives of prisoners of war—to register blocked Starlink terminals in their names. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has urged the public to report any such solicitations.
In an interview with Bloomberg, President Zelensky noted that while Russia will seek alternatives, Ukraine remains committed to blocking any such workarounds.
The Russian Ministry of Defense waited several days to issue an official response, claiming that the troop management system remains unaffected. However, amid record casualty figures—with Western estimates suggesting Russia lost between 30,000 and 35,000 personnel per month in December and January—confidence in such official statements remains low.
