Ukraine reclaims territory as Russia loses Starlink access
Ukrainian forces successfully reclaimed more territory than they lost during the second half of February, marking a rare tactical shift in the current phase of the war. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), this represents the first time the territorial balance has favored Kyiv since the 2023 summer counteroffensive.
The breakthrough is directly linked to the sudden neutralization of Russian communication channels. At Ukraine's request, Elon Musk’s SpaceX deactivated all Starlink terminals not included on authorized "white lists" earlier this month.
Russian troops had extensively relied on illicitly procured terminals to coordinate drone strikes, artillery fire, and frontline maneuvers. The blackout triggered immediate operational paralysis, with intercepted communications revealing a total collapse of real-time data transmission among occupying forces.
Ukrainian military personnel reported a sharp decline in the intensity of Russian mortar and drone attacks following the shutdown. Within days of the deactivation, Kyiv’s forces managed to liberate approximately 200 square kilometers in the southeastern sector.
A senior NATO official told The Moscow Times that Russia now faces severe difficulties in operational command. Pro-war Russian channels have admitted to the lack of viable alternatives, noting that frontline units are reduced to using basic radios, cables, or even "carrier pigeons."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
