War in Ukraine: Russian Spirit

At the moment the communications satellites have become a crucial issue for the Russian forces after the loss of reliable access to the Starlink network, Russia is forced to use satellite terminals, Defense Express reminds.

As 90 cm antennas are relatively easy to detect and target thanks to Ukrainian electronic intelligence services and drone reconnaissance, Russia has set up the new Spirit-030, which operates through a dedicated geostationary satellite, which allows the antenna diameter to be reduced to 30 cm. An asset that improves mobility and significantly reduces the visual and electronic signature of the system.

“The Russian forces are currently deploying these terminals massively on the front. It is essentially a portable satellite Internet terminal adapted for tactical use,” specifies Serhii Beskrestnov, who called on Ukrainian drone operators to consider these systems as “high-value targets.”

Nevertheless, this reduced model has not escaped the vigilance of the operators of the 414th unmanned strike system brigade, who managed to locate the first Spirit-030 terminal and destroy it.

After losing access to Starlink, Russia is striving to ensure its communication autonomy. The first 16 Rassvet satellites, launched in March 2026 and initially civilian, are now dedicated to military use to support Russian troops. Faced with a lack of rapid and secure communications, Russian forces are adopting new tactics, such as the use of inexpensive Molniya drones to counter Ukrainian electronic warfare.