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13 juin. 2025

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Communications under threat: will Ukraine start jamming mobile internet due to drone attacks?

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Ukraine
Communications under threat: will Ukraine start jamming mobile internet due to drone attacks?

Ukraine may begin temporarily shutting down mobile internet during attacks by “suicide bombers” due to the active use of Ukrainian networks by russians for navigation and data transmission. Find out how drones use SIM cards, what the military thinks, and what restrictions are being discussed in parliament.

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Against the backdrop of recent intensified attacks by russian Shahed kamikaze drones on Ukrainian cities, there is growing discussion about the possibility of temporarily restricting or disconnecting mobile internet, and in some cases even mobile communications.


Such steps may be a necessary decision to reduce the effectiveness of the strikes, as it has become apparent that the enemy is actively using Ukrainian telecommunications infrastructure for its own purposes.




Why do Shahed drones need Ukrainian mobile internet?


According to BBC Ukraine, modems with SIM cards, including Ukrainian ones, were found in the wreckage of “shahids” back in 2023. Since then, their use has only increased.


According to Sergei “Flash” Beskrestnov, an expert on electronic warfare and communications, in many cases, two modems connected to a microcomputer were found in drones, which use mobile internet to transmit data — not for control, but for collecting and sending coordinates, altitude, speed, and sometimes even video.


This data allows the enemy to:


- analyze flight routes;

- adjust new attacks to bypass Ukrainian air defense systems;

- restore navigation in case of loss of GPS signal due to the action of Ukrainian electronic warfare (EW) systems.


Junior Lieutenant Kirill from the Ukrainian Armed Forces' unmanned systems battalion noted that mobile towers act as ground-based “beacons” — drones can use them to orient themselves in space using the “triangulation” method.


Are there plans to shut down communications? What the government is saying


As of now, there is no talk of a complete shutdown of mobile communications, according to the relevant parliamentary committee on national security. However, the option of temporarily restricting mobile internet in areas where kamikaze drones have been detected is being considered.


According to the head of the cybersecurity subcommittee, Oleksandr Fedienko, a working group has been set up involving the military, mobile operators, counterintelligence, and other experts. It is tasked with developing technical and legal mechanisms to prevent the enemy from using Ukraine's mobile infrastructure.


“If the military says that parts of the network need to be shut down — for example, mobile internet in drone flight zones — we will consider it. The main goal is to disrupt the transmission of video and coordinates and knock the drone off its route,” Fedienko said, according to the BBC.




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Other options: how to block drones without a total shutdown


Ukrainian experts are working on complex algorithms that will allow the SIM cards of enemy drones to be blocked before they are registered on the network.


One of the proposed options is to automatically reject new SIM cards that enter the coverage area at a speed characteristic of a drone (over 150 km/h from the russian federation).


However, the key problem is user anonymity: over 80% of mobile subscribers in Ukraine are unidentified. That is about 25 million SIM cards, which can be actively used by the russian military. Therefore, parliament is discussing the need to introduce alternative methods of identification, possibly through bank verification.


And what about russia? They are already cutting off communications


Interestingly, russia itself is actively jamming mobile communications in its regions, especially on the eve of or during Ukrainian attacks. For example, on May 9, 40 regions of the russian federation experienced problems with mobile internet, voice communications, and text messages. And during special operations by the Armed Forces of Ukraine near strategic airfields in the Bryansk, Irkutsk, and Nizhny Novgorod regions, the authorities deliberately shut down the internet.


Opinions for and against


Some experts and military personnel support temporary internet restrictions. According to Ukrainian Armed Forces instructor Roman Donik, mobile internet is “a great help to the enemy,” allowing them to attack more accurately and bypass air defenses.


But there are also opponents of this approach. They emphasize that drones have redundant navigation systems — GPS, inertial, and sometimes satellite communications. And shutting down mobile internet is only a partial solution that could harm the defense, as it is also used by Ukrainian mobile fire groups, electronic warfare units, and critical infrastructure.


What's next: predictions and prospects


Final decisions on possible restrictions on mobile internet should be made in the near future, following recommendations from the aforementioned working group. But there will definitely not be a nationwide shutdown, assures Serhiy “Flash.”


More likely, there will be targeted shutdowns in high-risk areas, and only for a limited time.


Fixed internet, like regular voice communications, will not be restricted. At the same time, parliament is considering legislation that would allow mobile operators to respond quickly to threats in combat zones.


Russian drones are indeed using Ukrainian mobile networks as a navigation tool and means of transmitting information.


A complete or partial shutdown of mobile internet in certain regions may become part of protective measures if technical alternatives do not work. But this must be a balanced decision that takes into account both security needs and the vital role of communications for civilian, military, and critical services.


“We are living in a state of full-scale war. Sooner or later, society will have to decide what is more important: stable internet or safe cities,” concludes Oleksandr Fedienko.

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Photo: GETTY IMAGES


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