Russia has been able to disrupt Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, a move that could have a large impact on the ongoing war between the two countries.Soldiers lost access to the web shortly before Russian troops pushed across the Ukrainian northern border this month, a move that made it difficult for soldiers to share information about the surprise attack.Russia has started to deploy increasingly stronger electronic weapons to degrade the Starlink internet service and by doing so it’s posing a major threat to Ukraine, which has used its soldier’s connectivity to defend itself from Russian forces. The Times notes that if Russia continues to cause widespread disruptions in the internet service it “could make a tactical shift in the conflict.”SpaceX’s Starlink was been critical for the Ukrainian military since the early days of the war, and is used by soldiers to handle communication as well as to collect intelligence and conduct drone attacks, The New York Times reports.Starlink and other satellite communications can be disrupted using a high-powered radio frequency, an attack that is typically deployed from a vehicle with a large radio tower on top of it. Some have speculated Russia is also conducting attacks through weapons mounted on drones.An official who leads electronics warfare in Russia told state media last month that Starlink had been added to Russia’s “list of targets.” Historically Starlink has been able to withstand electronic attacks; however, Ukraine’s digital minister says that now Russia is testing different mechanisms to disrupt the service because it is so important to the country and more importantly its military.
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The country is heavily reliant on internet service for its military efforts, so any disruption can be potentially catastrophic. Experts have warned that Ukraine is putting itself at risk by being so reliant on the service, especially given the unpredictability of its owner, Elon Musk. The country is reportedly testing new systems as well; however, it notes there’s currently no “mass-produced equivalent” for Starlink.Earlier this month SpaceX launched Starlink in Indonesia.SpaceX currently owns roughly 60% of all of the active satellites in orbit, according to space technology firm Slingshot Aerospace. The service currently has 2.7 million users globally.
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