Russia has modernized its Volna Kupol Garant electronic warfare system designed to suppress Starlink satellite communications, making the specialized hardware more compact.
The updated design allows military operators to disperse individual components rather than deploying them in a single cluster, according to a report from the Russian Military Chronicle Telegram channel.
Kyiv claims that the Russian Starlink shield has already been deployed to protect almost all vital facilities across Crimea. Officials in Ukraine also reported that Russian forces are using the systems to protect frontline territories.
A single Volna Kupol Garant complex is estimated to cover an area of approximately 25 square kilometres, creating a localized interference zone to block incoming and outgoing satellite data.
Dispersed antennas and mobile trailers
The earlier variant of the system, which first became known during the summer, was based on six large trailers stationed closely together in a single position.
The upgraded modification removes that concentration by separating the equipment into mobile units. Individual antennas can now be placed on small vehicle trailers equipped with their own generators to ensure autonomous operation across scattered locations.
The complex functions by generating a focused radio signal directed toward orbit. That directional transmission blinds the receiving antennas on Starlink satellites, preventing the spacecraft from servicing ground-based user terminals.
Satellite communications and serial production
Electronic warfare involves using electromagnetic signals to disrupt, blind, or intercept enemy radar, communications, and navigation systems. Military forces deploy specialized jamming units to degrade precision weapons and cut off communications across contested territory.
Starlink, a satellite internet network operated by the American aerospace company SpaceX, relies on thousands of low Earth orbit satellites to beam broadband to portable surface dishes. The system has served as a crucial communications link for Ukrainian forces throughout the conflict.
Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, has faced regular drone and missile strikes against airfields, naval anchorages, and supply routes, increasing the demand for localized electronic protection.
In August, a source told the Russian state news agency TASS that domestic defence industry plants had established serial production of the Volna Kupol Garant complexes, clearing the way for broader deployment.
