A week of heat and high-frequency phone calls between Kyiv and California continues as Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s former defense minister, describes the effort to limit Russian access to Starlink as a 'difficult task'. Fedorov said in an Aug. 6 interview with Serhii Sternenko, his former adviser, that the ongoing talks with Elon Musk are critical, especially with Russian forces now deploying Starlink in occupied areas to improve their drone and communication systems.
Though SpaceX does not offer services in Russia, Starlink terminals have reached Russian military hands through third countries. Fedorov warned that uncontrolled access could let Russia coordinate drone strikes more precisely and circumvent Ukrainian radar and acoustic defenses. 'It’s a difficult task right now,' Fedorov said, echoing concerns about the potential impact on air defense systems like the Patriot.
The military and political stakes
The stakes for Ukraine remain high. Kyiv is struggling with a shortage of interceptors needed to defend against Russian ballistic missiles. The Patriot system is its most reliable tool for this, but the U.S. has diverted some supplies to address military demands in Iran. As a result, interceptors remain scarce in Ukraine, forcing defense planners to seek alternative solutions.
Russian efforts to bypass the gap
Meanwhile, Moscow is developing its own satellite-based internet system, 'Rassvet,' which could reduce its reliance on foreign systems like Starlink. However, the project’s progress and expected timeline are unclear. Fedorov credited his earlier negotiations with Musk with giving Ukraine a strategic edge in 2026 by disrupting Russian logistics and communications.