Russian forces have begun installing powerful electronic warfare systems designed to disrupt the Starlink satellite network used by Ukrainian drone units, according to Ukrainian military officials and drone pilots who spoke to Reuters. The deployment, confirmed by multiple commanders from Ukraine’s 422nd Unmanned Systems Regiment, marks a direct attempt to degrade the communication link that enables Kyiv’s fixed-wing, mid-range drones to strike supply depots, fuel storage sites, and command posts deep behind Russian lines. The jamming systems, identified as the Volna Kupol Garant, emit a signal strong enough to destabilise Starlink connectivity across an area of roughly 20 square kilometres, and Ukrainian defence ministry adviser Serhii Beskrestnov stated that approximately ten such units have been detected so far.

Viewed from Kyiv, the Russian electronic countermeasure is a response to a Ukrainian drone campaign that has, since early this year, systematically targeted logistics in occupied Crimea and along the southern front. Ukrainian commanders describe a fleet of drones, often piloted via Starlink from hundreds of kilometres away, that has struck fuel convoys, air-defence installations, and ammunition caches, contributing to fuel shortages and forcing Russian logistics to become slower and less predictable. The 422nd Regiment alone launched 800 mid-range drones in May, with 650 hitting intended targets, according to unit data shared with journalists. Ukrainian crews now treat the jammers as priority targets; one system was destroyed hours after detection in a joint operation with the SBU security service, after which, a commander using the callsign Dyryhent said, “our Starlink-equipped drones flew without problems.”

From the Russian side, the jamming effort is part of a broader adaptation that includes concealing military cargo in civilian vehicles, using smaller roads, and escorting fuel tankers with armed pickups. Ukrainian military intelligence told Reuters that Russian forces are transporting fuel, ammunition, and provisions in civilian cars, quad bikes, and motorcycles, and hiding supplies in abandoned buildings and civilian petrol stations. The Volna Kupol Garant system, reportedly produced by a company based in Russian-occupied Simferopol, uses directional antennas to flood the frequency range used by Starlink terminals with interference. Western analysts, including Rob Lee of the U.S.-based Foreign Policy Research Institute, note that while Russia is gradually achieving some success in countering the drone threat, the contest remains fluid: the jammers themselves become high-value targets, and Ukraine’s ability to sustain the pressure will depend on the pace of adaptation on both sides.

Neither the Russian defence ministry nor SpaceX responded to requests for comment on the reported jamming. Reuters stated it could not independently verify the tactics described. The dossier remains open, with Ukrainian forces actively hunting the jamming systems and Russian units likely to expand electronic warfare coverage if production scales up. The next factual steps are expected to involve further strikes on jamming installations and continued Russian efforts to shield logistics, as the technological duel between satellite-linked drones and ground-based electronic warfare intensifies along the front.