Russian Volna EW System Reportedly Targets Starlink Links Used by Ukrainian Forces
Russian specialists have developed the Volna Kupol Garant electronic warfare system, which military correspondents say can suppress Starlink communications used by Ukrainian forces.
Russian specialists have developed the Volna Kupol Garant electronic warfare system, which, according to military correspondents, is designed to suppress Starlink satellite communications used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Russia’s Defense Ministry has not yet officially commented on the system. Experts interviewed by NEWS.ru believe the development may be especially useful in rear areas to protect important facilities from drone attacks.
The Telegram channel Voenny Osvedomitel earlier reported the appearance of the new electronic warfare system in Russian forces. According to the channel, Volna Kupol Garant consists of several trailers fitted with satellite equipment.
Military correspondent Dmitry Steshin claimed that such systems are already being deployed in areas where there is a heightened threat of Ukrainian UAV strikes. According to him, the system can protect an area of about 20 square kilometers from aerial threats. He also noted that the equipment is entirely Russian-made.
The possible use of Volna is also being discussed in Ukraine. Sergey Beskrestnov, an adviser to the head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry on defense technology, described the system’s effect as creating interference with Starlink satellite communications. According to his version, such a method may cause a satellite to stop receiving signals from terminals.
Military expert and air defense historian Yuri Knutov said that Volna’s main task is to counter Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory. In his assessment, the system is effectively intended to create a protective dome over strategically important facilities.
At the same time, Knutov noted that the system has limitations in its use. According to him, because of its size, the complex is more suitable for deployment at a certain distance from the front line. He believes placing such equipment directly near the line of contact would make little sense, since it could be quickly detected.
In rear areas, Knutov believes Volna Kupol Garant could protect large facilities comparable in size to the Moscow Oil Refinery. However, he stressed that the new Russian electronic warfare system still has to be tested in real combat conditions.
The Telegram channel Voennaya Khronika claims that the system’s effective coverage area is gradually expanding. Its authors believe that, in the future, a kind of electronic warfare «cap» could appear in certain sections of the front. They also claim that the system is allegedly capable not only of disrupting Starlink satellites but also of damaging them. Russia’s Defense Ministry has neither confirmed nor commented on these claims.
Military analyst Dmitry Drozdenko noted that it is impossible to verify claims about possible satellite damage. According to him, only Elon Musk’s specialists and team can reliably know the condition of the spacecraft, since the Russian side has no ability to physically inspect Starlink satellites.
Drozdenko explained that a satellite can be completely disabled either by kinetic impact or by powerful electromagnetic damage. In the case of Volna, he assumes the issue is not the direct destruction of spacecraft, but an attempt to disrupt the communication channel between a terminal, a satellite and a drone.
At the same time, the expert pointed out that Ukrainian drones do not depend exclusively on Starlink. According to him, modern UAVs can use other navigation methods, including preloaded terrain images and camera-based orientation. In that case, the aircraft compares the image it sees in flight with prepared maps and continues moving without constant satellite communication.
In addition, drones can operate through mesh networks, when several aircraft are linked into a single network and exchange data with one another. This complicates the task for electronic warfare systems.
Nevertheless, Drozdenko believes that systems like Volna are necessary for Russian forces. In his assessment, they can protect critical facilities by breaking the connection between UAVs and the Starlink satellite system.
The analyst also noted that Russia needs not only a «shield» against drones, but also its own «sword» in the form of a satellite constellation. Such a system is already being developed under the name Rassvet. The first 16 spacecraft were successfully launched into orbit on March 23.
Commercial operation of Rassvet is planned to begin in 2027. By that time, the constellation is expected to grow to 250 satellites, with a further increase to 900 spacecraft. Vladimir Putin earlier said that the Russian system is not inferior to Starlink and even surpasses it in some parameters.