Ukraine Arrests Lviv Student for Registering Starlink Terminals for Russian Troops
Ukraine said it arrested a student in Lviv and his friend for activating at least 14 Starlink terminals for Russia, and potentially at least 40 more. The case is the latest in a series of cases in which Russia has tried to recruit Ukrainians to activate Starlink terminals after Kyiv’s new verification system in February, while Russia’s alternative, Rassvet, continues to suffer troubled launches.
Ukraine has apprehended a Lviv student and a friend in connection with registering Starlink terminals for Russian intelligence, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced on Tuesday. The pair, recruited by Russian intelligence on social media, allegedly enlisted 14 individuals to register the terminals using their passport data, according to the SBU's press release.
The student had sought "easy" earnings in Telegram channels before being recruited, highlighting the financial motivations behind the espionage attempts. The SBU warns that the two may have registered an additional 40 Starlink terminals, and the investigation into the case is ongoing. If found guilty, the two could face up to 12 years in prison and have their property confiscated.
Since Ukraine implemented a registration system in early 2026, Russia has struggled with communication breakdowns on the battlefield, attempting to counteract this issue by deploying its own Rassvet satellites. However, these satellites have faced challenges, such as limited satellite numbers and failed launches, leading Russia to seek local agents in Ukraine to register Starlink terminals on their behalf.
Previous arrests include a military deserter in May and two men in Kyiv in July, who registered 76 and 76 terminals, respectively, for Russia.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
