Following the successful blocking of Starlink terminals used by the Russian occupation army, Ukraine's Defense Forces are facing a new technological challenge. The enemy is now attempting to employ so-called Mesh networks for real-time drone control.
Sergey Beskrestnov, a consultant to the Ministry of Defense known by the call sign "Flash," disclosed details of the new tactic.
According to Beskrestnov, neutralizing Russian access to Starlink was critical, as satellite connectivity allowed the occupiers to conduct high-precision strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
"Here is how it works: if a Shahed flies using GPS data, it might strike, for example, the center of a substation. But if the drone is under manual control during the attack phase, a pilot in Russia can guide it to a specific critical point — the exact transformer, at the precise angle," the expert explained.
However, Russian forces are now shifting to alternative communication methods. They are deploying dynamic signal relay networks utilizing radio modems.
"We are seeing how the Russians are attacking now — it is a different ballgame. It involves controlling Shaheds via radio modems and Mesh networks directly from Russia. For us, and personally for me, this is a challenge. And we will counter this threat as well," Beskrestnov noted.
He clarified that Mesh technology enables an airborne data transmission chain: if one link is lost, data packets automatically reroute through other relay drones. Work is currently underway to protect critical infrastructure, specifically locomotives and substations, from such threats.
"I am ashamed because this should have been done a long time ago, months ago. We are currently experiencing some delays, and one of my tasks right now is ensuring we react very quickly to the enemy's challenges," the expert admitted.
Plans to counter the new threat involve a comprehensive approach utilizing electronic warfare (EW) and radio reconnaissance assets. Beskrestnov compared this confrontation to "technological chess," where it is crucial to think a step ahead rather than merely reacting to the enemy's moves.
As a reminder, on February 2, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced the start of Starlink terminal verification to prevent their use by occupiers. On February 5, Sergey Beskrestnov confirmed that the mass disconnection of Russian satellite links halted assaults on many sectors of the front and issued a warning to those attempting to profit from activating Starlink terminals.