According to the Ukrainian military intelligence chief, Russian soldiers in Ukraine have been utilizing numerous Starlink satellite communication devices produced by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. This information was revealed in an interview with The Wall Street Journal which was published on Thursday.

Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov stated that the use of the Starlink system among Russian troops has been ongoing for a significant period. The terminals were obtained from private Russian companies who had acquired them through intermediaries.

According to him, the intermediaries transport the equipment to Russia by way of nearby nations, such as former Soviet Republics.

On Monday, Budanov’s agency informed Reuters that Russian soldiers were using Starlink for communication on their front lines, but did not reveal the extent of terminal usage.

Last year, Ukraine reported that approximately 42,000 terminals were being utilized by various groups such as the military, hospitals, businesses, and aid organizations through Starlink. The Pentagon has also provided financial support in order to grant Ukrainian forces access to this technology.

The Russian Embassy and SpaceX have not yet responded to requests for comment.

According to Starlink, they do not conduct any business with Russia. However, the company did not answer an email sent earlier this week inquiring about the possibility of Russian troops using their system in Ukraine.

According to former British Army Brigadier Ben Barry, if Russian forces are utilizing Starlink for their communication, it could potentially increase their security and make it more challenging for Ukraine and its allies to intercept.