USAID lost track of over 5,000 Starlink units in Ukraine, with many operating in areas controlled by Russia
USAID lost track of over 5,000 Starlink units in Ukraine, with many operating in areas controlled by Russia
A new internal audit reveals the US Agency for International Development (USAID) failed to monitor thousands of Starlink internet terminals sent to Ukraine, with nearly half of the active units reportedly operating in territories controlled or contested by Russian forces.
The report, issued by USAID’s Office of Inspector General on August 11 as reviewed and found that the agency did not track the locations or usage of 5,175 Starlink terminals provided to Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The terminals, produced by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, were meant to support critical public infrastructure amid widespread communications blackouts caused by Russian missile strikes.
USAID justified the lack of oversight by citing the urgent wartime conditions and logistical challenges. “The complex wartime environment and urgent need for connectivity meant we accepted a higher level of risk,” the agency said in an official response included in the report. It described the project as a life-saving measure, intended to restore essential services such as healthcare, emergency shelters, and local government communications.
The terminals were delivered as part of a public-private partnership between USAID and SpaceX.
Of the 5,175 units deployed, 1,508 were purchased by the agency and 3,667 were donated by SpaceX. However, the watchdog report found that more than half of the operational terminals are now located in areas either fully or partially occupied by Russian forces.
The report does not specify how the terminals ended up in Russian-held territory, who currently controls them, or how they are being used. Notably, the investigation did not cover the potential use of the Starlink system for military purposes such as drone operations, artillery coordination, or battlefield communications all of which have been reported in the past.
Ukrainian officials have previously accused Russian troops of using Starlink terminals acquired through private Russian intermediaries claims denied by both the Kremlin and Elon Musk. The issue has raised concerns over the potential misuse of commercial satellite technology in conflict zones, and the lack of safeguards in emergency aid programs.
The inspector general’s report concludes that USAID did not “fully mitigate” the risk of misuse, leaving the agency unaware of the terminals’ final locations and functions. As the war grinds on, the revelation raises new questions about accountability and oversight in high-stakes international aid during armed conflict.
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