Photo: ua.news
On January 15, Russian forces were recorded for the first time controlling a BM-35 strike drone via the Starlink satellite system.
This was reported by electronic warfare and communications expert Serhii Beskrestnov (Flash). Previously, Starlink had only been observed on reconnaissance-strike drones like the “Molniya,” but now the technology is being applied to full-fledged strike UAVs.
Beskrestnov emphasized that kamikaze drones, including Shahed-type UAVs, controlled via Starlink, are expected to appear imminently—he estimates this could happen within days, not months. Such drones would be largely immune to electronic warfare measures and capable of accurately striking targets under Russian operator control from within Russia.
On the Kovel–Kyiv railway axis, new threats have emerged following attacks by enemy kamikaze drones, some of which can drop magnetic mines directly onto the terrain.
Russian forces also carried out a mass Shahed-131/136 drone attack on critical infrastructure in Mykolaiv Oblast, leaving parts of several settlements without electricity.