Ukraine considers restricting mobile Internet in areas targeted by Russian "Shahed" drones
The Verkhovna Rada is prepared to consider restrictions on mobile internet access in areas where Russian "Shahed" drones are detected, according to Oleksandr Fediyenko, head of the parliamentary subcommittee on cybersecurity, in a comment to the BBC.
This proposal stems from the increasing use of mobile communications by Russian drones. The first case of a Shahed equipped with a modem and a Ukrainian SIM card was recorded in November 2023. Since then, such devices have been found by the hundreds—if not thousands—in drone wreckage.
Although mobile networks are not used to directly control the drones, they do transmit telemetry data—such as coordinates, altitude, and speed—back to Russian operators. This allows for post-strike analysis and optimization of future drone flight paths to avoid Ukrainian air defenses.
Mobile operator base stations in Ukraine effectively serve as ground-based beacons. When a Shahed experiences navigation interference from electronic warfare (EW), it can re-establish its position by reconnecting to Ukrainian mobile networks.
According to Roman Donik, head of a Ukrainian Armed Forces training and advisory group, similar techniques may also be used by Russian cruise missiles and guided aerial bombs (KABs).
A working group composed of military personnel, counterintelligence officers, telecom operators, and cybersecurity experts is currently developing recommendations to counter Russia’s exploitation of Ukraine’s mobile infrastructure.
Among the proposed countermeasures:
Temporarily disabling mobile internet services along known drone flight corridors.
Blocking the registration of SIM cards that enter coverage zones at high speeds, indicating potential use in UAVs.
"If the military advises that we need to disable parts of the network in areas where Shahed activity is recorded, we will consider it. The priority is to disrupt the effectiveness of Russian drones," Fediyenko stated.
"We are at war, and the state must protect its citizens. These may be unpopular decisions," he added.
At this time, there are no plans to restrict stationary (broadband) internet services.
Critics argue that such restrictions may be ineffective. They note that mobile communications are not the primary navigation tool for Shaheds—GPS is the main system, supplemented by inertial navigation. Additionally, many drones operate in areas without any mobile coverage.