Despite the Russian ban on Starlink use, middlemen have reportedly been buying terminals and shipping them to Russian forces for use in its war against Ukraine.
What Happened: The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Tuesday reported that this is enabled by middlemen including a salesman at a Moscow-based online retailer. The individual, who identified as Oleg, told WSJ that most orders came from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine and were for use by the military. These terminals are then delivered to Russian soldiers by volunteers.
WSJ’s investigation unveiled a shadowy supply chain for Starlink hardware. End-users connect to satellite using its roam feature but the hardware is registered in countries where it is allowed. Middlemen buy this hardware from the U.S. on eBay or from the black market in Central Asia, Dubai, or Southeast Asia and smuggle these into Russia.
Starlink, made by Elon Musk‘s SpaceX, provides internet access enabling effective communication between troops and allows for controlling drones and other technologies.
SpaceX CEO Musk denied media reports of Starlink terminals being sold to Russia in February. "This is categorically false," Musk had said. "To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia."
However, as per the WSJ report, Ukrainian authorities are now working with SpaceX on a solution for Russian forces using these terminals.
At the onset of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in early 2022, SpaceX provided thousands of Starlink kits to Ukraine, enhancing the country's communication capabilities and helping its forces maintain communication channels.
However, Ukraine has since then also criticized Musk, particularly after it was revealed via Musk's biography that he restricted Starlink access for submarine drone plans against Russian vessels in Crimea, citing the possibility of escalating the conflict between the two countries. Musk is also critical of America's investment in Ukraine during the ongoing war.
Other Reports Of Illegal Use: However, WSJ says that the use of Starlink satellites is not limited to one war. Paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) also uses Starlink for internet access in Sudan despite the ban on the technology. The U.S. has accused this group of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Dealers told the newspaper that the devices are activated in Dubai and shipped with an Africa-wide roaming package. However, Starlink does not ship its terminals to Dubai, the report noted.
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