Ukraine to block access to Starlink for unauthorized devices

Ukrainian authorities stated on February 2, 2026, that they would prevent Russia from accessing the Starlink network in Ukraine. In late January 2026, Serhiy Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian military technology specialist, revealed that Russian drones were using SpaceX’s network for long-range missions. To do so, the Russian army diverts terminals obtained on the black market, stolen, or imported from neighboring countries.

Starlink will therefore adopt a “whitelist” approach in Ukraine: by default, no terminal will function there. Only equipment that has been duly registered and validated will be able to use SpaceX’s network; all others will be automatically disconnected.

Administrative centers will manage the registration of civilian terminals and corporate fleets. Military units already have a dedicated authentication channel, “DELTA,” which will confirm their registration on the whitelist.