New Starlink verification system
Ukraine has launched a new authentication system for Starlink satellite internet terminals used by the public and the military after verifying that Russia state sponsored hackers have started using the technology to attack drones.
The government has also introduced a compulsory “whitelist” for Starlink terminals, where only authenticated and registered devices will work in Ukraine. All other terminals used will be removed, as per the statement from Mykhailo Fedorov, country's recently appointed defense chief.
Why the new move?
Kyiv claims that Russian unmanned aerial vehicles are now being commanded in real time using Starlink links, making them more difficult to detect, jam, or shoot down. This action is intended to counteract these threats. "It is challenging to intercept Russian drones that are equipped with Starlink," Fedorov stated earlier this week. "They can be controlled by operators over long distances in real time, will not be affected by electronic warfare, and fly at low altitudes." The Ministry of Defense is implementing the whitelist in collaboration with SpaceX, the company that runs the constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites for Starlink.
The step is presently the only technological way to stop Russia from abusing the system, Fedorov revealed Wednesday, adding that citizens have already started registering their terminals. "The government has taken this forced action to save Ukrainian lives and safeguard our energy infrastructure," he stated.
How will it impact other sectors?
Businesses will be able to validate devices online using Ukraine's e-government services, while citizens will be able to register their terminals at local government offices under the new system. According to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, military units will be exempt from disclosing account information and will utilize a different secure registration method.
Using Starlink connectivity, Ukraine discovered a Russian drone operating over Ukrainian territory at the end of January. After then, Kyiv got in touch with SpaceX to resolve the problem, albeit the specifics of the emergency procedures were not made public. Army, a Ukrainian military outletSetting a maximum speed at which Starlink terminals can operate was one step, according to Inform, which cited an initial cap of about 75 kilometers per hour. According to the study, Russian strike drones usually fly faster than that, making it impossible for operators to manage them in real time.
