Russian military scrambles to find Starlink alternative after access blocked

Russia's military is scrambling to find an alternative to Starlink satellite internet after access was blocked by Ukraine. The Ukrainian government had deactivated Starlink terminals used by Russian troops following talks with Elon Musk, who operates the network. Moscow relied on thousands of smuggled Starlink terminals to keep units connected along the frontline, allowing for coordinated movements and drone strikes. With no homegrown alternative available, Russia's military is facing disruptions to its communications system. Ukraine introduced a "whitelist" system to lock out devices believed to be in Russian hands, prompting anger among pro-war military bloggers. The shutdown has prompted concerns about the impact on Russian forces on the battlefield, with troops reportedly rushing to set up backup systems.

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