Starlink satellite communication terminals continue to be openly sold in Russia, despite trading platforms that such goods are not available for ordering, and the ban by Russian authorities and the company itself on the use of the system.
The Insider journalists told about it in a new investigation.
Investigators were able to find on the Russian marketplace Ozon 12 terminals Starlink at prices ranging from 1400 to 3000 euros and 2 routers for terminals for 360 euros.
On the marketplace journalists even found an offer for sale with the title “Satellite Internet for Special military operation Starlink”, which indicates the openness of sales of such systems. According to the seller's assurance, Special military operation Starlink works in “border areas, the Republic of Crimea and the city of Kaliningrad”.
Another seller specifies that the device works in the territory of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions, as well as in the LNR and DNR, Crimea and Kaliningrad.
However, not everyone puts “Western technologies” on sale so openly for fear of having their account blocked on the marketplace. Some sellers reinsure themselves and do not specify the name Starlink in the ad. Sometimes they simply call the product Star V2 or Star V3, but use photos of the original terminals, according to The Insider.
Elon Musk's systems are in high demand by the Russian military, which is increasingly using them in combat operations in Ukraine.
Thus, in March, the Kremlin media reported that Russian occupiers allegedly destroyed the Ukrainian military's drone control stronghold by calculating its location with the help of Starlink. The military received the terminal from Popular Front volunteers who delivered it “to the Special military operation zone,” the report said. Where exactly the systems were obtained was not specified. The Wall Street Journal investigation said that the equipment is smuggled into Russia through a chain of suppliers from North African and Asian countries.
Recall, for the first time that the Russians began to use American systems, became known in February. Elon Musk, the founder of Space X, which owns the development of Starlink systems, stated that he does not supply terminals and services to Russia either directly or indirectly. Russia and China have also banned the use of the systems as it could undermine control over information transfer.
