In a significant development, Ukraine's Defence Intelligence has announced that it has confirmed the use of Starlink satellite communications by Russian forces operating in occupied areas. According to intercepted conversations, the Starlink terminals are allegedly providing internet access to Russia's 83rd Air Assault Brigade in the Donetsk region.

Starlink, which is owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, has denied any involvement in business dealings with the Russian government or its military. The company stated that if they become aware of a Starlink terminal being used by a sanctioned or unauthorized party, they investigate the claim and take necessary actions to deactivate it.

Although Starlink claims that its service does not work in Russia, it remains unclear whether it would function in occupied Ukraine. The service is reported to play a crucial role in Ukrainian battlefield communications, with the head of the Main Ukrainian Intelligence Directorate previously stating that "absolutely all front lines are using them."

This recent revelation by Ukraine follows the disclosure made in a biography of Elon Musk, written by Walter Isaacson. The book describes how Musk allegedly ordered his engineers to disable Starlink's satellite communications network near the Crimean coast last year, during a Ukrainian attempt to launch a surprise attack on the Russian naval fleet. As a result, Ukrainian submarine drones equipped with explosives "lost connectivity and washed ashore harmlessly," preventing the attack.

Musk's decision was reportedly driven by a deep fear that Russia would respond to a Ukrainian attack on Crimea with nuclear weapons, based on his discussions with senior Russian officials. Ukrainian officials pleaded with Musk to restore the satellite network, highlighting its crucial role in their operations.

The utilization of the Starlink satellite communications system by Russian forces in occupied areas raises concerns about the extent of Russia's technological advantage and the potential impact on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how Ukraine and other international actors will respond to this latest revelation.