By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Russia is increasingly deploying advanced electronic warfare systems in an effort to disrupt Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet network, a move aimed at weakening Ukraine’s growing fleet of long-range attack drones that have become one of Kyiv’s most effective weapons in the war.
According to Ukrainian drone commanders and military personnel operating on the front lines, Russian forces have begun installing sophisticated jamming equipment near key military sites, logistics hubs and occupied territories in an attempt to interfere with Starlink communications. The satellite network has played a crucial role in allowing Ukrainian operators to maintain reliable contact with drones over long distances, enabling precision strikes deep behind Russian front lines.
Ukraine’s expanding “mid-strike” drone campaign has dramatically changed the battlefield over the past year. Using relatively inexpensive drones capable of flying dozens of kilometres, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted fuel depots, ammunition warehouses, command centres, air defence systems and critical supply routes. These operations have disrupted Russian logistics, complicated troop movements and contributed to fuel shortages in occupied Crimea and other strategic areas.
However, as Ukrainian drone capabilities have advanced, Russia has adapted its own tactics. Military commanders from Ukraine’s 422nd Unmanned Systems Regiment told Reuters that Russian forces are now combining electronic warfare with deception strategies to make Ukrainian attacks less effective.
Among the most significant developments is the reported deployment of powerful Starlink-jamming systems. Ukrainian defence ministry adviser Serhii Beskrestnov said Russian forces are using a system known as the Volna Kupol Garant, which emits strong electronic signals capable of destabilising Starlink connections across an area of roughly 20 square kilometres. Around ten of these systems have reportedly been identified so far.
Although the jamming equipment poses a growing challenge, Ukrainian forces say it has also become a high-priority target. Drone operators have already conducted successful missions against several of the electronic warfare installations. One attack, carried out jointly with Ukraine’s SBU security service, reportedly destroyed a Starlink-jamming site only hours after it was detected.
Drone commander known by the callsign “Dyryhent” said communications immediately improved after one of the systems was destroyed.
“As soon as we struck that installation, our Starlink-equipped drones flew without problems,” he said.
Beyond electronic warfare, Russian forces are also changing the way they transport military supplies. Ukrainian commanders say fuel and ammunition are increasingly being moved using civilian-looking vehicles to avoid detection. Fuel has reportedly been hidden inside water tankers, milk trucks and other ordinary commercial vehicles, making it more difficult for Ukrainian drone crews to distinguish legitimate civilian traffic from military targets.
Russian convoys are also becoming smaller and more mobile. Instead of moving large fuel columns, forces are reportedly using pickup trucks with mounted machine guns to escort small groups of tankers while travelling on secondary roads away from known surveillance routes.
Ukraine’s military intelligence says Russia has expanded the use of civilian cars, motorcycles and quad bikes to transport ammunition, fuel and supplies closer to frontline positions. Military equipment is also being concealed inside abandoned buildings, agricultural facilities, underground shelters and even civilian petrol stations to reduce the risk of detection from aerial surveillance.
Reuters journalists visiting the 422nd Unmanned Systems Regiment witnessed Ukrainian soldiers preparing several strike drones for nighttime missions. One Zozulya, or “Cuckoo,” drone was launched toward occupied Crimea with the objective of targeting a base used by Russian drone operators.
Not every mission ends successfully. During Reuters’ visit, another Ukrainian RAM-2X strike drone attempted to destroy a Russian fuel tanker but missed its target. Meanwhile, the surveillance drone monitoring the operation was shot down by a Russian Tor surface-to-air missile system. Even so, Ukrainian operators used the encounter to identify the missile battery’s location and immediately entered its coordinates into Ukraine’s digital battlefield targeting network for future operations.
Military analysts believe Ukraine’s long-range drone campaign has become one of the most significant developments of the conflict this year. At the same time, experts warn that Russia’s expanding production of electronic warfare equipment could gradually reduce the effectiveness of these strikes if deployed on a larger scale.
Despite Ukraine’s success in damaging supply lines and disrupting logistics, Russia continues to control roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory more than four years after launching its full-scale invasion. Fighting remains intense across multiple fronts, with both sides constantly developing new technologies and tactics in an ongoing contest between drones, satellite communications and electronic warfare.
The battle for control of the electromagnetic spectrum has become almost as important as the fighting on the ground. As Ukraine continues to rely heavily on precision drone strikes powered by satellite connectivity, Russia’s efforts to jam those communications are emerging as one of the latest fronts in an increasingly technology-driven war.
Source Reuters
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