The commander of a Ukrainian unmanned systems brigade told BBC Ukrainian Service that Russian forces will likely spend about six months trying to find an alternative to Starlink.[14] The commander noted that Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), unlike the Russian Rubikon Center, cannot focus exclusively on strikes against Russian logistics and the Russian operational rear, as the Ukrainian USF must also spend time and resources helping Ukrainian infantry hold the frontline and repel Russian infantry attacks.

[15] Russian forces, particularly from the Rubikon Center, were using Starlink terminals to extend the ranges of their drones in order to strike further into the Ukrainian rear to generate effects of battlefield air interdiction (BAI).[16] Rubikon often publishes footage on its Telegram channel highlighting strikes against specific frontline or rear settlements, but has not offered this level of geographic detail about any of the strikes since February 4 — just days after SpaceX blocked unregistered Starlink terminals in Ukraine.[17]