Starlink for the occupiers for $100: SBU uncovered 8 Russian agents recruited via Telegram

The suspects face between 10 years' imprisonment and life imprisonment

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29 Jun 2026

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The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) uncovered 8 agents of Russia who, according to the investigation, registered and activated Starlink satellite terminals for the armed formations of the aggressor state. Residents from different regions of Ukraine aged from 18 to 44 years were drawn into the scheme; Russian intelligence operatives found them through Telegram channels offering “easy earnings”.

On the results of counterintelligence measures on 29 June 2026 reported the Security Service of Ukraine.

According to law enforcement, Russian handlers offered Ukrainians to register the satellite equipment under their passport data and hand over the credentials for system access to representatives of the aggressor state.

For each registered device the perpetrators were to receive $100. The satellite systems could later be used by Russian military forces.

One of the incidents was uncovered by law enforcement in Volyn Oblast. The suspect turned out to be an 18-year-old resident of Lutsk, who registered a Starlink in his own name and provided access to the satellite system to Russian military personnel.

After that, the young man, according to the SBU, recruited 7 more acquaintances into the illegal activation of the equipment. They also registered satellite systems intended for use by representatives of the aggressor country.

The 18-year-old suspect was taken into custody. According to the statement, he received $100 for each device he processed.

Another episode was documented by law enforcement in Rivne Oblast. There, 2 mobilized servicemen who had left their military unit without authorization and later agreed to cooperate with Russian intelligence services were detained.

After recruitment, both men initially registered Starlink terminals in their own names and handed the necessary credentials to Russian handlers.

They were later tasked with recruiting as many people as possible into the illegal verification of satellite equipment.

To carry out the Russian intelligence instructions, the suspects under false pretenses obtained and used the passport details of at least 14 of their acquaintances.

Another part of the scheme was uncovered by SBU counterintelligence in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. There, 2 men were detained who had previously been convicted of theft and robbery.

According to the investigation, they initially registered Starlink terminals in their own names and handed the credentials to a representative of the Russian intelligence services.

After that, the suspects recruited another 14 people into the illegal registration of satellite systems.

In its public statement the SBU did not detail the procedural status of each acquaintance whose passport details may have been used to register the terminals. At the same time, the Service announced the exposure and detention of 8 agents of Russia.

Based on the collected evidence, investigators informed the detainees of suspicion according to each person’s role in the scheme under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

part 2 of Article 111 — treason committed under martial law;
part 1 of Article 111-2 — aiding the aggressor state;
part 4 of Article 408 — desertion.

Depending on the charged crime, the suspects face from 10 years imprisonment up to life imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Comprehensive actions were carried out under the procedural supervision of the Dnipropetrovsk and Volyn regional prosecutor’s offices, as well as the Rivne Specialized Defense Prosecutor’s Office of the Western Region.

The pre-trial investigation continues. The final guilt of each of the suspects must be determined by a court.

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