Military expert Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov reported that Ukrainian Defense Forces have, for the first time, detected a kamikaze BM-35 drone being controlled via Starlink satellite internet technology.
“Until now, Starlink had only been seen on the ‘Molniya’ UAV. When ‘Shaheds’ start flying with Starlink, it’s only a matter of time—possibly days, not months,” Flash noted.
In December last year, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Main Directorate reported that Russia had adapted the FPV fixed-wing drone “Molniya” for aerial reconnaissance—installing Starlink and a camera with three-axis stabilization. The report added that the drone also carried a Chinese Mini PC F8 running licensed Windows 11.
Serhiy Beskrestnov had previously reported on the new Russian BM-35 kamikaze drones in the fall of 2025. The UAV has a delta-wing aerodynamic design and is equipped with a two-stroke gasoline DLE engine with a pusher propeller located at the front of the fuselage. Experts have identified at least 41 foreign-made components in the drone.
Flash considers the appearance of Starlink technology on the BM-35 a major threat to Ukraine.
“UAVs with this type of control are resistant to electronic warfare and hit their targets accurately under the guidance of Russian operators,” the expert warned.
