The Armed Forces of Ukraine have started a successful counter-offensive after the company SpaceX switched off Starlink for Russian troops. The Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to regain at least 380 square kilometres of territory in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro regions.
Starlink restrictions for the Russian Federation
In February 2026, SpaceX introduced a «white list» mechanism for the Starlink satellite internet service. Only the Ukrainian military was granted access to the system. Russian units lost the ability to use Starlink to coordinate their actions.
The loss of satellite communications significantly reduced the effectiveness of Russian drones and the speed of decision-making. The Russians were forced to switch to radio communications, which Ukrainian intelligence began to actively intercept.
Ukrainian Armed Forces' successes at the front
After Starlink disconnection for the Russian army The Armed Forces of Ukraine have moved to counter-attack. Ukrainian forces managed to regain 380 square kilometres of territory, particularly in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro regions.
It is known that earlier the commander Alexander Syrsky reported the liberation of up to 400 square kilometres during the counter-offensive. The interception of radio communications allowed the Ukrainian Armed Forces to plan counterattacks more effectively and operate in small groups behind enemy lines.
Context.
According to WSJ, SpaceX's decision to restrict access to Starlink for the Russian military created a «critical window» for Ukrainian forces. This has made it difficult to transfer coordinates and control Russian units at the front.
The use of radio communications instead of satellite internet has made Russian troops more vulnerable to interception and disinformation.
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