Kremlin Threatens Starlink Strikes as Russian Jets Force NATO Scrambles Across Europe
Russia is escalating hybrid warfare against NATO while warning that any use of Starlink satellites for deep strikes inside Russia would be "dangerous," as European jets scramble to intercept Russian aircraft near multiple borders.
The Kremlin issued a direct threat on Wednesday over Ukraine's potential use of Starlink satellites to guide long-range attacks on Russian territory. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesman, said any such use would be "dangerous" and claimed Russia has the technological and military capabilities to protect its security, though he did not specify what response might follow [4].
Starlink is a satellite internet network owned by SpaceX, the American company led by Elon Musk. Its satellites provide internet access worldwide, and its services have been used for military communication. The warning follows reports that Ukraine could use Starlink to support long-range attacks on Russian territory [4].
The threat comes as Russia intensifies pressure on NATO countries through what analysts describe as hybrid warfare. For months, Moscow has pressured NATO members through drone and fighter jet incursions near European borders, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns [3].
On Friday, Swedish and Finnish jets scrambled after Russian military planes flew near the Gulf of Finland. On Sunday, Spanish jets in Romania responded to a drone approaching the border with Ukraine. Such alerts are now constant [3].
Last week, European intelligence services increased warnings about Russian actions against the continent. Danish intelligence (DDIS) published an analysis warning of a growing risk of a limited Russian military attack against one or more NATO countries bordering Russia [3].
"There is a low, but growing, risk that Russia will launch a limited military attack against one or more NATO countries that border Russia," said DDIS director Thomas Ahrenkiel [3].
The perception of danger intensified in Europe after a Russian drone attack on Leipzig airport in Germany. NATO and the European Commission saw it as a new escalation of Russian aggression against European security [3].
However, most experts agree that Putin cannot open a new front while stuck in Ukraine. "Russia does not have the resources to simultaneously wage a large-scale conventional war against Ukraine and against NATO," said Russian researcher Ígor Gretski of the International Center for Defense and Security in Estonia. According to him, all Kremlin threats aim to make allies stop sending weapons to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski. That is why Russia "sows fear among European populations about the prospect of armed confrontation with Russia" [3].
The European Union's response has been clear. EU diplomatic representative Kaja Kallas sent a message after the 27 member states agreed on conditions to unlock 6.6 billion euros from the European Peace Facility for Ukraine. "Moscow's hybrid attacks aim to intimidate Europe into reducing its support for Ukraine. Europe is doing just the opposite," Kallas said [3].
A senior European Commission official specializing in defense noted that "the psychological impact of drone attacks must be considered. In fact, what Russians seek most is precisely that psychological impact. There is much work to do in preparation and response to this manipulation of information and the information space" [3].
Finnish President Alexander Stubb asked Europeans not to fall into "very exaggerated reactions," since Moscow's goal is to spread panic so the EU reduces support for Ukraine. "We must be very careful and understand that Russia is trying to destabilize and frighten Europe. Every time we overreact to a hybrid attack, Russia has actually won the battle in that area," Stubb said [3].
Russian President Vladimir Putin denies responsibility for sabotage acts that European authorities blame on Moscow. He dismisses Western intelligence reports warning that Russia is preparing to attack NATO. Instead, Moscow says it feels threatened by Europe's growing military buildup. Russian officials believe NATO is already in conflict with Russia and see European countries as legitimate targets for hybrid war [3].
From Moscow's perspective, "Russia is neither making plans nor has any intention of attacking NATO member states," said Vasili Klimov, a senior researcher at the Center for International Security at IMEMO, a prestigious Russian institution for global policy [3].
Analyst John Sipher of the Atlantic Council noted that Putin's goal "is to sow division" among European and U.S. allies and "promote Western far-right and radical groups." Sipher concluded: "For Putin, the current turmoil represents an opportunity that may not last. Russia remains weaker than the West as a whole and has repeatedly suffered the consequences of its own aggression. Therefore, its best strategy is not to defeat the West, but to encourage the West to defeat itself. From Moscow's perspective, if your adversary is stumbling toward the precipice, this is precisely the moment to give it a push" [3].
Meanwhile, Russia continues to pay a heavy price for its war in Ukraine, yet Moscow shows no sign of backing down. Ukraine keeps asking for more weapons, raising the question of what level of support would be enough to force Russia to its knees—and for how long [2].
As Russia struggles to advance in Ukraine, concerns are growing that Putin may shift his aggression toward NATO. Analysts suggest a dark logic drives this potential escalation [1].