The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) failed to track thousands of Starlink terminals sent to Ukraine, nearly half of which are now in areas fully or partially controlled by Russia, according to a report by its inspector general released on August 11.
A total of 5,175 satellite Internet service terminalsElon Musk were provided to Kyiv to support communications during the war. But USAID's internal watchdog criticized the agency for accepting a high risk of misuse, citing the "complex wartime environment" and the urgency of Ukraine's needs.
"As a result, USAID did not know where the terminals were located or how they were being used," the report said, highlighting shortcomings in the management of equipment deemed strategic for military and civilian operations.
In its response, USAID argued that it was virtually impossible to control the location and use of these devices in an active conflict setting. However, the agency indicated that it was seeking to improve its procedures to limit the risk of future diversion.
This finding raises concerns that some terminals may be used by pro-Russian forces or in areas under Moscow's control, potentially compromising the security of Ukrainian communications.
