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Russian military units in Ukraine are facing serious problems after losing access to Starlink satellite internet, according to the Atesh partisan movement. The group claims the shutdown has damaged battlefield communication and caused Russian troops to mistakenly fire on their own forces.
Atesh said Russian units in eastern and southern Ukraine can no longer coordinate properly, leaving commanders unable to control operations.
Communication Breakdown Hits Russian Units
According to Atesh, Russian forces near Kupyansk and in the Zaporizhzhia region now operate with limited communication. Sources inside the 122nd Motorized Rifle Regiment and the 1152nd Regiment said command systems have almost stopped working.
Because Starlink terminals went offline, Russian communication officers struggle to keep contact between units. Backup systems have failed, and electronic warfare equipment often jams even Russian radios.
Atesh said the lack of stable communication has created confusion on the front line.
Friendly Fire Incident Reported
The partisans reported a serious incident in the Zaporizhzhia region. A breakdown in communication left Russian units unaware of each other’s positions.
As a result, one group opened fire on its own forces and destroyed an assault unit of about 12 soldiers, according to Atesh.
The movement said Russia’s heavy use of civilian technology has become a weakness. When communication systems fail, command collapses and mistakes increase.
Starlink Access Cut Along Front Line
The problems follow a move by SpaceX to disable unauthorized Starlink terminals used by Russian forces in Ukraine. The action reportedly cut internet access across nearly 1,000 kilometers of the front line.
Military analysts say many Russian units depended on Starlink to transmit secure data. Without it, commanders struggle to plan and coordinate attacks.
Some Russian military bloggers also claimed troops now rely on paper maps and couriers carrying memory sticks instead of digital systems.
Why Starlink Was Restricted
Ukrainian officials earlier warned that Russian forces were using Starlink linked systems, including attack drones, during operations. In response, SpaceX introduced a whitelist system that allows only approved terminals to function in Ukraine.
This change reportedly disabled many grey market and unauthorized devices used by Russian units.
An electronic warfare expert said the loss of Starlink access has reduced Russian assault activity in several areas.
Fighting Continues Despite Disruptions
Although combat continues across parts of the front, Ukrainian military updates indicate lower attack intensity in some sectors. Analysts say communication failures make large scale operations harder to carry out.
Conclusion
The Starlink shutdown has added new pressure on Russian forces in Ukraine. According to Atesh partisans, the loss of satellite communication has triggered chaos, weakened command and even caused deadly friendly fire incidents. As technology plays a bigger role in modern warfare, communication failures can quickly change conditions on the battlefield.
