Chmut: Disconnection from Starlink will not become a critical problem for the manageability of Ukraine’s troops

Chmut: Disconnection from Starlink will not become a critical problem for the manageability of Ukraine’s troops

The charity fund “Come Back Alive” believes that the potential disconnection of the Ukrainian Defence Forces from the Starlink satellite internet services will be a problem, but not a critical one, and will not lead to a loss of control over the Ukrainian military.

This was discussed in the podcast “Frontline Poplava” on February 27.

In the podcast, the host mentioned that given the changes in U.S. policy, Ukraine might be disconnected from Starlink. Therefore, he asked if there were any alternatives.

In response, the director of the “Come Back Alive” fund, Taras Chmut, said: “This (Starlink) is one type of communication. There are many others. There’s wired, UHF, HF, relay, satellite, etc. Starlink is a cheap, simple, convenient, and comfortable type of communication. It’s widespread, understandable, fast... Is this (possible disconnection from Starlink - “N”) a critical problem? Critical - no, a problem - yes, because we have grown accustomed to it. I do not believe it will happen - but even if it does, it will be difficult to do streams, obviously. But the control over the troops will not disappear.”

The head of the analytical direction of the NGO “Center for Initiative ‘Come Back Alive’”, Anton Muraveinik, mentioned: “Since 2022, we have been delivering items to those who asked and wanted, which could improve communication in the defence line of a battalion or brigade. Those who wanted, and who had progressive signalmen, established alternative types of communication themselves. In various ways, and some of them work and scale.”

Chmut reminded that under the limited operation of “Starlink”, Ukrainian troops are performing tasks in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation.

“There is a lot that is non-public... Take Kursk. Communication is also arranged there somehow. We purchased and deployed a lot there... In this field, regarding communication, Ukraine is a very advanced country. And the army.

Starlink is great because it is really super simple, super cheap, super convenient, and functional. But there is a Swedish alternative, there are other commercial alternatives. They are all much more expensive, more complex, not as widespread. But the main thing is that control over the troops will not disappear,” said Taras Chmut and jokingly added: “Not that it is super great with it now...”