Starlink Slowdown Leaves Ukraine’s Interceptor Drones ‘Shooting Blind’ — Analyst
An instructor from the Ukrainian company General Cherry demonstrates the operation of an anti-air interceptor drone.
The speed limit on Starshield satellite terminals in Ukraine will severely impair its ability to strike Russian targets, military expert Evgeny Mikhailov tells Sputnik. The Ukrainian military’s «command and control, coordination and logistics will all be disrupted,” Mikhailov says.
In the pundit’s opinion:Ukrainian drone strikes across Russia’s new regions could be disrupted, affecting their attacks on trucks, civilians and other targetsspeed limits undermine Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russia’s jet-powered Geran drones, which fly at 500–700 km/h and already “outmatch them in speed and other capabilities”Without satellite-assisted navigation, Starlink-dependent interceptor drones are left effectively “shooting blind,” underscores the expert.
There is no viable replacement for Starlink in sight, points out the analyst.Europe’s IRIS system is not expected before late 2028, Ukraine’s R-2200 remains under development, and European GovSatCom is targeted for 2029. Starlink restrictions could serve as a US “pressure tool” against Volodymyr Zelensky, whom Donald Trump may be seeking to rein-in — exposing Ukraine’s total dependence on external players, he concludes.
WorldUkraine Forced to Cancel Drone Missions Following Starlink Slowdown — Reports06:35 GMT
