A U.S. government watchdog has found that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) did not adequately track the use of 5,175 Starlink satellite terminals sent to Ukraine, with nearly half of operational units reportedly ending up in areas fully or partially controlled by Russian forces.
The findings were detailed in a report by USAID’s inspector general, dated August 11 and reviewed by Reuters.
The report said USAID accepted a higher risk of misuse due to “the complex wartime environment” and Ukraine’s urgent need for connectivity. “As a result, USAID did not know where the terminals were or how they were used,” it noted. The report did not investigate potential military applications of the terminals, such as drone operations, artillery targeting, or communications.
In response, USAID defended its approach, citing the “unprecedented emergency” created by Russian attacks on communications infrastructure. The agency emphasized that the primary goal was to restore life-saving connectivity for essential public services, including healthcare, municipal emergency shelters, and local governance.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, USAID partnered with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to provide 5,175 Starlink terminals, 1,508 purchased by USAID and 3,667 donated by SpaceX—to maintain critical civilian internet services.
The inspector general concluded that USAID did not “fully mitigate” the risk of misuse and that more than half of the active terminals were in territories under full or partial Russian occupation. The report did not clarify how the terminals reached those areas, who controlled them, or their specific uses.
The findings underscore the challenges of providing technology in conflict zones. Kyiv previously claimed that Russian forces had used thousands of Starlink terminals supplied by private Russian firms, allegations denied by both Moscow and Musk.
Written By Rodney Mbua
