Special Report: Ukraine details Russian Starlink jammer, warns Russia preparing 20-element CRPAs

A image from Ukraine's 422nd Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment video purportedly showing the destruction of a Russian Volna Kupol Garant EW system, posted on social media on 15 June 2026. (Ukraine Army/422nd Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment)

Russia has been using its Volna Kupol Garant electronic warfare (EW) system to jam Starlink satellite terminals since 2025, a senior representative of the Directorate of Electronic and Cyber Warfare of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) told Janes on 21 September 2026.

On 28 August 2026, Russian state media outlet Tass announced that Russia had begun mass producing Volna Kupol Garant EW systems.

The stationary Russian EW system is equipped with at least eight antennas and is used by Russian forces from undisclosed areas in occupied regions of Ukraine which include Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea. “They [Russian forces] use the system against [Starlink] terminals which are over the occupied territory of Ukraine,” the representative explained. He went on to confirm that Ukraine uses Starlink satellite communications for guidance, reconnaissance and targeted strikes. “Russia does not have access to Starlink over its own territory, and we also do not have access,” he added. On 24 September, Finnish President Alexander Stubb urged SpaceX owner Elon Musk to expand Starlink satellite coverage for Ukraine to strike ballistic missile launchers inside Russia. SpaceX had not replied to a request for comment by the time of publication.

The Volna Kupol Garant EW system has an effective coverage area of 20 km². “The middle point of that, a three to four km radius, is where the EW system is suppressing receiver signals on the [Starlink] satellites,” the representative said. He went on to add that 20 km² represents “a customer area” which is supported by one satellite.