The secret plan of Russia and China to take out Starlink

Russia and China have reportedly been developing a covert strategy aimed at undermining Starlink, the satellite internet system operated by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. According to reports from Il Giornale, both nations are considering a multi-pronged approach involving diplomatic pressure, electromagnetic interference, cyberattacks, and even physical destruction of Starlink satellites. This plan has emerged amid growing concerns over the role of Starlink in supporting Ukrainian military operations during the ongoing conflict. The strategy, outlined in documents analyzed by The Insider in collaboration with Der Spiegel and Le Monde, outlines several phases. Initially, Moscow and Beijing aim to leverage diplomatic and legal channels to argue that Starlink poses risks to space traffic and orbital management. They seek international restrictions on the expansion of the system, framing it as a potential threat to global space governance. In subsequent stages, the two countries plan to occupy key frequency bands and orbital positions critical to Starlink's operations, thereby limiting its growth and effectiveness. Chinese officials have proposed the development of electromagnetic jamming systems capable of disrupting the network’s functionality. In the final phase of the strategy, according to the leaked documents, Russian and Chinese authorities contemplate cyber operations and the possibility of physically destroying Starlink satellites using relatively low-cost technologies. These measures are intended to cripple the system’s ability to provide secure communications, drone coordination, and data transmission for Ukrainian forces. The documents suggest that both nations view Starlink as a strategic threat, believing that control over low Earth orbits and the electromagnetic spectrum grants the United States a significant military advantage that is difficult to counter. Starlink has become a crucial asset for Ukraine, enabling reliable communication networks despite attacks on terrestrial infrastructure. The system has allowed Ukrainian forces to maintain operational capabilities, including drone coordination and intelligence gathering, even under intense enemy fire. A pivotal moment came when Ukraine’s former Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, worked with SpaceX to implement a “whitelist” policy that disabled Starlink terminals used by Russian units. This move reportedly disrupted Russian command structures, slowing their advances and strengthening Ukraine’s position on the battlefield. Experts such as Yevhen Pronin, a Ukrainian specialist in drones and international law, emphasize that the significance of this strategy lies in the evolving nature of warfare. Space is increasingly becoming a new theater of conflict, with satellite networks playing a central role in military operations. As traditional targets, airfields, ports, and ground installations, are being challenged, the control of orbital assets and electromagnetic frequencies is emerging as a decisive factor. Pronin notes that while Russia continues to develop its own low-orbit satellite constellation to reduce reliance on foreign technology, it still lags behind Starlink in terms of satellite numbers, infrastructure, deployment speed, and operational experience. This gap has made cooperation with China more critical for Russia’s ambitions. While the documents do not confirm that Russia and China have already executed these plans, they highlight how deeply Starlink has embedded itself into the strategic calculus of both nations. The potential consequences of such actions could reshape the balance of power in the region, particularly as the war in Ukraine continues to evolve into a broader contest over technological and spatial dominance. For now, the focus remains on the unfolding developments in this complex geopolitical landscape.