Russians confiscate Ukrainian SIM cards due to absence of Starlink communication – Voloshyn

Russian troops operating on the Prydniprovske front are attempting to gain internet access by confiscating or purchasing SIM cards from Ukrainian mobile operators due to the absence of Starlink satellite communications.

This was reported by Vladyslav Voloshyn, Spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, in a comment to Ukrinform.

“On the Prydniprovske front, Russians, who currently do not have Starlink, are trying to find, obtain, buy, or seize SIM cards of Ukrainian GSM mobile operators – Kyivstar and Vodafone – as they need access to the internet,” Voloshyn said.

He specified that, according to intelligence data, these incidents are occurring specifically on the Prydniprovske front, where Russian forces are seeking alternative ways to connect to the network.

“They are trying by all possible means to purchase them or confiscate them from someone,” the Spokesperson emphasized.

As reported earlier by Ukrinform, the Defense Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine intercepted a conversation between Russian soldiers in which they complained about poor communications quality following the shutdown of Starlink satellite terminals.

Photo provided by V. Voloshyn