Starlink Outage Russia: Official Confirms Systems Down for Two Weeks

A senior Russian military official recently acknowledged a significant Starlink outage Russia. Systems used by its military have reportedly been down for two weeks. The official, however, claims this disruption had no effect on drone operations. This statement contrasts with claims from Ukrainian officials regarding the impact of the satellite internet disruption.

What Happened

Deputy Defence Minister Aleksei Krivoruchko made the acknowledgment on state television. He confirmed that Starlink terminals used by the Russian military had not been operational for two weeks. Krivoruchko asserted the disconnection did not impact the effectiveness of their unmanned systems. He cited data from objective monitoring to support this claim.

Details From Sources

Russian Acknowledgment

Deputy Defence Minister Aleksei Krivoruchko confirmed the two-week Starlink outage. This announcement came on state television, as reported by itnews.com.au on Feb 18 2026, citing state television.

Russian Claim on Impact

Krivoruchko stated the outage had no effect on drone operations. He referenced data from objective monitoring of damage to enemy equipment and personnel. This claim was made by the Russian official via itnews.com.au.

Ukrainian Counter-Claims

The Russian acknowledgment followed earlier reports from Ukrainian officials. They first reported the disconnection nearly two weeks prior. Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov confirmed terminals were disconnected. Other Ukrainian officials described a considerable effect on Russian operations, as stated by Ukrainian officials and reported by itnews.com.au.

Starlink’s Role

Ukraine’s military relies on tens of thousands of satellite-based Starlink connections. These are crucial for battlefield communication and piloting some drone missions. This information is according to itnews.com.au.

Russian Use of Starlink

Starlink terminals, produced by SpaceX, were found on long-range drones used in Russian attacks. This was reported by itnews.com.au.

Why This Matters

Conflicting statements exist regarding the Starlink outage’s impact on military operations. The debate centers on whether this disruption truly affects Russian military Starlink drone capabilities. This divergence in claims highlights the strategic importance of satellite internet disruption in modern conflict.

Background Context

Starlink terminals are manufactured by SpaceX. Ukraine’s military heavily relies on these systems for communications and drone piloting. Earlier, Starlink terminals were discovered on Russian long-range drones. The Russian acknowledgment of the systems being down came almost two weeks after Ukraine reported the initial disconnection of Russian-used Starlink terminals.

Conclusion

A senior Russian official has acknowledged a two-week Starlink outage. Deputy Defence Minister Aleksei Krivoruchko stated the systems were down for two weeks. He claimed no impact on drone operations, citing objective data. Ukrainian officials, however, reported a considerable effect. The situation presents contrasting views on the operational impact of this satellite internet disruption.

FAQ Section

Q1: What has a Russian official acknowledged regarding Starlink systems?

A senior Russian military official acknowledged that Starlink systems used by the Russian military have been down for two weeks.

Q2: For how long have Starlink systems reportedly been inoperable for the Russian military?

Starlink systems have reportedly been inoperable for the Russian military for two weeks.

Q3: What impact did Deputy Defence Minister Aleksei Krivoruchko claim the Starlink outage had on drone operations?

Deputy Defence Minister Aleksei Krivoruchko claimed the Starlink outage had no effect on drone operations.

Q4: How did Ukrainian officials describe the effect of the Starlink disconnection on Russian military operations?

Ukrainian officials described the effect of the Starlink disconnection on Russian military operations as considerable.

Q5: What role do Starlink connections play for the Ukrainian military?

Starlink connections play a vital role for the Ukrainian military for battlefield communication and piloting some drone missions.