Starlink-Enabled BAI Push Expands Russian Reach Into Ukraine's Rear

Russia has intensified battlefield air interdiction (BAI) across Ukraine, expanding drone and glide-bomb strikes into the operational rear using Starlink-enabled networks and mesh communications to disrupt roads, rail, and bridges. SpaceX's February 2026 Starlink block degraded but did not halt these attacks, prompting Russia to seek alternatives (Barrage-1, Rassvet) and mothership drones. Ukraine and its partners must bolster kinetic air defense, electronic warfare, and mid-range strike capabilities to protect logistics and deter a spring-summer offensive, focusing on the Fortress Belt and major corridors like the E-50.