Starlink terminals continue to be supplied to Russia despite government ban

Starlink satellite internet terminals continue to be imported into Russia despite a government ban

Starlink satellite internet terminals continue to be brought into Russia despite the government ban, Verstka found after speaking with sellers of “white Starlinks.”

“Fast delivery times, a clean account, and everything needed. No risks or blocks,” says one post by a supplier of terminals from abroad. “We offer a completely clean terminal with a ‘white’ account registered to a real agent.”

According to a seller who introduced himself as Alexander, there have been “no problems so far” with imports after the decree. He added that he brings the goods into Russia overland through a transport company. Dmitry, a supplier of “white Starlinks” from China, said that nothing had changed. “We brought them in before and we still bring them in, all in the gray zone,” he says. “Well, you and I are no strangers to bans. According to the authorities, nobody uses Starlinks or Telegram in the SVO.”

“We bring all goods in through gray channels. What does gray mean — any goods (a drone, thermal imager, Starlink, T-shirt, it doesn’t matter). Any item enters through gray channels. That is when the goods are declared, but the actual nomenclature is not declared; it is declared as some supposed umbrellas. Everything gets through perfectly, everyone knows everything, and everyone turns a blind eye”

He added that if any problems arise with the cargo, for example if it is held up at a customs point, the money will be “safe.” In his Telegram channel with 20,000 subscribers, the man posts photos of entire batches of terminals being supplied from China.

Two more sellers also told Verstka that the government decree had not affected the import of terminals in any way. One of them, Evgenia, said delivery of a terminal with verification after purchase to Moscow costs almost 7,000 rubles, with delivery times of 7–12 days. “Do you think these terminals are officially imported and cleared through customs? [The decree] will have no effect,” she added.

Contract soldier Vladimir in Donetsk Oblast told Verstka that since Starlink was disabled for Russian troops and then allegedly geolocated all Russian points near the line of contact, the military has become less interested in the terminals.

Another contract soldier fighting on the Kharkiv front said that Starlink terminals continue to be supplied to the front. But he could not clarify exactly how the devices are brought into the country.

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