On September 22, 2026, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained two men in Lviv who registered 14 Starlink terminals under fictitious names for the Russian military. These terminals were used for planning combat operations against the Defense Forces of Ukraine in Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
Perpetrators and Their Actions
Among the detainees was a Lviv student who had been recruited by Russian special services through Telegram channels offering "easy money." Together with his unemployed acquaintance, they deceitfully obtained the personal data of 14 individuals to register the terminals. After activation, they transmitted information to a Russian handler in exchange for money.
SBU's Response and Consequences
Counterintelligence officers of the SBU quickly apprehended both individuals. All 14 Starlink terminals were blocked. Additionally, information regarding the possible registration of over 40 more terminals using a similar scheme is being verified. The detainees face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.