Supported by the technical skills of Kutkov and the organizational abilities of Stepanets, Kovalskyy has established a prominent warehouse repair hub for Starlink terminals in Ukraine. Kovalskyy, a former co-owner of a regional internet service provider, and his team have tailored Starlink terminals for battlefield needs, enabling them to charge directly from vehicles before a proprietary car adapter was introduced. Additionally, they have replaced the original SPX plugs with standard Ethernet ports to improve resistance to moisture and temperature.
Kovalskyy, Kutkov, and Stepanets lead Narodnyi Starlink, an initiative involving several volunteers who communicate regularly via Zoom to discuss recent developments related to Starlink in the conflict zone and address information security challenges. Initially, the group used public channels for sharing information, but they transitioned to private communications after encountering Russian surveillance; Stepanets noted that sensitive information had been translated by Russian forces in 2024. Consequently, the administrators manage the Facebook group to prevent the disclosure of posts that could benefit enemy operations.
The safety of members has become a concern. Stepanets highlighted the attempted assassination of activist Serhii Sternenko as an indicator of the risks faced by volunteers in Ukraine. He emphasized that Narodnyi Starlink operates as a decentralized community, maintaining functionality despite potential changes in membership.
The community’s informal structure allows it to respond more effectively compared to formal military processes, which can be considerably slower. For example, military communications officer Yuri Krylach noted that the private sector’s agility is superior to state channels.
Despite concerns about potential withdrawal of Starlink services, many volunteers remain unconcerned about the issue, suggesting that financial implications would deter such decisions by Musk. They believe the technology will continue to support their efforts as long as it remains profitable. However, Stepanets acknowledged an overreliance on Starlink, suggesting it has become a critical component of Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/08/21/1122035/ukraines-largest-starlink-repair-shop/