Some technical nuances: to maintain a satellite connection, the antenna always needs a clear line of sight to the sky. That means the drone has to be large enough to carry the terminal stably and maneuver reliably. But the tradeoff is a connection that won't snap like a fiber-optic cable mid-flight.

And yet we're aware that Elon Musk's goodwill could end at any moment. Starlink access might be restored for Russians, or taken from us entirely. That's exactly why we can't afford to wait — we need to use this window while it's open, because right now, quite literally, lives depend on it.

You might think it's expensive to put a full Starlink terminal on a drone, especially if it's a one-way flight. But effectiveness costs more than the hardware. A destroyed ammunition depot deep in enemy territory means extended lives for our soldiers and civilians. That math is simple.

As a result, some Russian units lost up to 90% of their internet connectivity. That's not just an inconvenience: without connectivity, the entire command-and-coordination system falls apart.

But in February 2026, Elon Musk made a decisive move. SpaceX carried out a mass disconnection: only terminals registered through the Ukrainian platforms DELTA or Diia continued to work. The effect was staggering!

Russians figured all this out too. Through shell companies and third-country intermediaries, they imported Starlink terminals en masse, mounted them on their drones, and used them for front-line communications. By early 2026, some Russian units had built their entire logistics around Starlink.

Put a Starlink terminal on a drone, and the control signal travels through space: thousands of meters up and back down. Electronic warfare is nearly powerless against that. Range jumps from 3-5 kilometers to tens, even hundreds, and suddenly you're dealing with an entirely different weapon.

A standard FPV drone is controlled via radio signal, and radio is imperfect: it's easily jammed by electronic warfare systems and simply can't hold up where the radio horizon is broken. The drone has to fly through hills, forests, buildings, and the connection drops fast.

Let's start with Starlink as a communication tool. SpaceX launched thousands of compact satellites into low Earth orbit that together form a global internet network, stable, fast, and virtually unreachable by ground-based interference. That's exactly what made it the key.

Starlink-fliers are incredibly needed at the front right now. But why? What makes them so compelling that units across the board started rebuilding their drones around Starlink? Here's what they are and why they changed the game 👇🏻

In short, it was a tough month — but a wonderful one. We got to do meaningful work, and because of you, we believed in ourselves a little more. Thank you!

We ran a fundraiser for the 80th Brigade. Honestly, we were in a rush to meet the deadline for the matching funds program from the Lviv Military Administration. Here, we explain why, even as fiber-optic drones become significantly more expensive, we simply cannot give them up. Spoiler:funds raised!

July was a hot month in every sense. We got to meet so many of you, and to introduce you to our soldiers. It moved us and inspired us more than we can say. We hope we can keep the bar this high! And in parallel, we collected and delivered this much equipment 👇🏻

The equipment you donate doesn't just protect someone, it gets used, tested, iterated on, and feeds the next idea. And in the time of such fast warfare changes, we think it is a very proud part to be in — shoulder to shoulder with all of you!

And now it part of how they operate, innovate and fight. Just look at it 👇🏻 They said thank you! Somewhere along our way, we became something slightly different and new: a small part of the innovation loop.

Something happened at our Beyond the Frontline Conference that we want to share with you. During the panel on drone innovation, when our soldiers and analysts were presenting real battlefield case studies, they paused to mention specific equipment by name. Equipment we fundraised for together.

Our heroes from the 25th Brigade share their gratitude with everyone who supported this campaign. The fundraiser is still ongoing. You can help us reach the goal faster by donating on our website: dzygaspaw.com/25th-strike...

We delivered 15 Starlinks Mini as a part of the 25th Strikes project 💪 The total cost of the delivered equipment is just $5,855. But every Starlink matters, as it helps provide stable, reliable communication for soldiers who depend on it every single day. That's why we delivered them ASAP.

Want to own a piece of the pack? 🐺 We're dropping exclusive Da Vinci Wolves merch as part of our "Wolves on the Hunt!" fundraiser. Every item was provided directly by the brigade and can't be found anywhere else. Every dollar goes straight to the front line! store.dzygaspaw.com/shop/cat/da...

HOW did we dare to set a $500,000 goal for Da Vinci Wolves battalion?That's a massive number... Here's the truth: we wouldn't have, without the incredible support of Ukrainians behind us.

Huge thanks to Georgijs from the @ukrainematters.bsky.social YouTube channel and his amazing community! We can't express our gratitude for all your help. Your support makes a big difference on the frontlines. THANK YOU!

Another 100 FPV drones delivered to the Black Raven Battalion! That's the second batch of 100 in two weeks, at a cost of $53,438. Since the start of this project, we've delivered 350 drones to their pilots. The number keeps growing. So does the pressure on the enemy.

Every battalion commander has fought in infantry battles firsthand. This isn't a preference — it's a non-negotiable internal standard. Third: the synthesis of infantry and technology. Da Vinci Wolves can merge classic assault infantry with modern technological warfare into one cohesive system.

First: a living tradition of ideas and combat culture dating back to 2014. The volunteer foundation is the unit's core, and it's what built their strong internal identity and institutional strength. Second: every commander has personal combat experience.

🔥 "Wolves on the Hunt!" — our BIGGEST FUNSRAISER of the year is live! We are raising $500,000 for Da Vinci Wolves Battalion 🐺 Dzyga's Paw is committed to raise $250,000, while the other part will be raised by Ukrainian Da Vinci Wolves Charity Fund! dzygaspaw.com/wolves-on-t...

Is it possible to destroy enemy drones WITHOUT LOSING YOUR OWN? Yes! Just look at these hits from the Edelweiss unit using net launchers! One cartridge costs around $35 while the downed Mavics/Matrices cost... You know 😖 How great that together with you we support this unit!

Our fundraiser for the Vampire drones is finished 🧛 We raised not $120,000 but over $170,000! We can now deliver 22 drones for this project. We want to appreciate @toonietuesday.bsky.social, @siliconcurtain.bsky.social, @atpgeo.bsky.social, Markus and Ulrich for their help with this fundraiser!

Is it Batman? No, it's BatDzyga with her new vampire friend 🧛 At Beyond the Frontline Conference, Khartiia Brigade presented us with this amazing artwork as a thank-you for the Kupiansk Vampires fundraiser. We didn't expect it, and it genuinely made our day. Thank you!

This is not an abstract war. Every Ukrainian felt it in their own city, saw the terrifying results of russian attacks. The only way to end this is to stop russia. Your donation goes directly to soldiers defending the Ukrainian land from the enemy right now. Please donate: dzygaspaw.com/support

This morning, our team in Lviv woke to air-raid sirens. At around 5 AM, russia launched missiles at our city. 23 people needed medical assistance, 13 are still in the hospital, and 1 man did not survive. We send our deepest condolences to his family.