Vladimir Putin’s forces are buying Starlink satellite internet terminals through third countries for use on the battlefield, say Ukraine’s spy chiefs.
The Elon Musk-owned service has been vital to Kyiv’s battlefield communications.
But Ukrainian officials have said Russian troops are also increasingly relying on it during Putin’s invasion which is set to enter its third year.
Hundreds of thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded, with the civilian death toll also above 10,000.
The defence ministry’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) in Kyiv released what it said was an audio intercept of two Russian soldiers discussing buying units from Arab providers for around 200,000 roubles (£1,740) each.
“The aggressor state Russia is purchasing communications equipment, including Starlink satellite Internet terminals, for use in the war in Arab countries,” the ministry said on Telegram.
On Monday, GUR spokesman Andriy Yusov said Russian forces were purchasing the terminals through unspecified third countries.
Starlink has said it does not do business with Russia or operate on Russian territory.
The Kremlin said the terminals were neither certified for use in, nor officially supplied to, Russia, and therefore could not be used.
Russia attacked the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro with missiles and drones on Tuesday, damaging a power plant and cutting off water supplies to some residents, Ukrainian officials and media said.
The city of just under one million people came under attack from a missile and four groups of drones approaching from the south, east and north, Ukraine’s Air Force said.
It reported shooting down 16 out of 23 drones launched by Russia.
Ukraine’s largest private energy provider, DTEK, said a thermal power plant was significantly damaged. There were no casualties, it added.
The company did not say where the power plant was located, but Dnipro’s water utility company said on Telegram that “due to power outages” water supply had been partially suspended and Ukrainian media outlets said a power plant in Dnipro was hit.
Regional governor Serhiy Lysak that energy infrastructure had been hit, but gave no further details. He said 10 drones were destroyed over the city and that workers had restored power to all affected homes.
Both Russia and Ukraine have increased their air attacks away from the frontline in recent months, targeting each other’s critical energy, military and transport infrastructure.
