Ukraine strikes Russian drone, command and logistics sites as Starlink connectivity losses are reported
Ukraine’s General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces struck Russian military sites across occupied Donetsk, Crimea and Zaporizhzhia on 22 October and overnight into 23 October. The targets included drone-storage and launch facilities, a command point, ammunition and equipment depots, and a personnel concentration linked to the Rubicon drone unit. The General Staff said the attacks were carried out despite reported connectivity losses affecting Starlink/StarShield at certain speeds.
Key points
- A drone-storage, preparation and launch facility near occupied Donetsk was struck.
- A Russian unit command point near Hromove in occupied Crimea was hit.
- An ammunition depot near Hirnyk and a drone depot near Sverdlovo in Donetsk were struck.
- Equipment depots near Berdyanske, Balkove and Orikhivka were hit.
- A personnel concentration connected to the Rubicon drone unit near Kamianka was struck.
- The General Staff reported connectivity losses affecting Starlink/StarShield at certain speeds.
Why it matters
The reported targets were associated with Russian attack drones, ammunition, equipment and personnel. Ukraine’s General Staff said the strikes could reduce Russian drone capabilities, complicate the supply of Russian units and lower their ability to conduct combat operations. Reported Starlink/StarShield connectivity losses are significant because they affected communications, although Ukrainian forces continued carrying out strikes.
What happened
On 22 October and overnight into 23 October, Ukrainian forces reported striking several Russian military sites and units. The targets included a facility for storing, preparing and launching attack drones near occupied Donetsk; a command point near Hromove in occupied Crimea; an ammunition depot near Hirnyk; a drone depot near Sverdlovo; equipment depots near Berdyanske, Balkove and Orikhivka; and a concentration of personnel connected to the Rubicon drone unit near Kamianka in Zaporizhzhia. The General Staff also reported cases of lost connectivity in Starlink/StarShield at certain speeds but said strikes continued.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage focused on the General Staff’s report of strikes against Russian drone infrastructure, command points, ammunition and equipment depots, and personnel concentrations. The coverage emphasized that Ukrainian forces continued conducting strikes despite reported Starlink/StarShield connectivity losses and presented the strikes as reducing Russian drone capabilities and complicating the supply and combat ability of Russian units.
Where reporting differs
Reports differed in how they described the circumstances and consequences of the Starlink/StarShield speed restriction. Some reported disrupted military missions, while others noted a dispute over the cause among officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump and his allies. Ukraine had not received an official explanation of the reason for the restriction or the decision behind it.
Background
Earlier reports said the connectivity restriction applied while moving above 160 km/h and disrupted several important military missions. Ukraine had not received an official explanation for the restriction or the decision behind it. A dispute was reported within Donald Trump’s administration and among his allies over the reasons for the Starshield restriction.