Russians buy the terminals on the “black market” and receive them from Europe via the United Arab Emirates.
Elon Musk justified his refusal to activate Starlink in Crimea at Ukraine's request
At the same time, the Pentagon says the U.S. and Ukrainian governments are working with SpaceX to “prevent Russia from illegally using Starlink terminals in occupied Ukraine,” specifically focusing the U.S. Treasury Department's attention on “potential sanctions violations” related to international smuggling.
How to Buy Starlink in Russia
Before Starlink revolutionized the market, previous generations of satellite field terminals were slow and expensive. Now, users can buy terminals for a few hundred dollars and pay a monthly fee for service in more than 100 countries and territories, but not in Russia.
Although Russian companies and individuals are not allowed to sell Starlink, a gray market has emerged. Most terminals are sold via Telegram and begin their journey in the Moscow region before reaching the front. The price of a terminal in Russia is just over $1,000. Customer service is free, and everyone receives recommendations to “minimize the risks of blocking.”
To activate the device, users need a foreign phone number, email address, and bank account to pay the monthly subscription fee. Terminals are mainly purchased in Europe and transported to Russia via the United Arab Emirates.
- In September, the Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed the Russian “Shahed-136”, equipped with SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications, during a Russian drone attack on the night of September 25.