Is Starlink Available in Russia in 2025 

Curious whether Starlink works in Russia in 2025? We explain the current legal status, how people are obtaining terminals, typical street prices, risks of use, and alternatives — updated with 2025 reporting.

Introduction — short answer up front

No — Starlink is not officially available or licensed for use in the Russian Federation in 2025. While terminals sometimes appear on the black market or are used in specific areas, SpaceX/Starlink has no authorized commercial service or license in Russia and using or importing terminals carries legal and practical risks.

Why the question matters

Satellite internet services like Starlink provide broadband where terrestrial networks are weak. That makes them strategically and commercially important — and a sensitive policy issue when state security, sanctions, and military operations are involved. Whether Starlink is available in Russia affects households in remote regions, journalists, NGOs, companies, and — in a wartime context — military actors. Accurate, up-to-date information is essential.

Official status in 2025

As of late 2025, multiple reputable reports and regulatory commentary state that Starlink has not been licensed for civilian or military use inside Russia. SpaceX has not announced any official commercial rollout or regulatory approval for the Russian market, and Russian regulators treat Starlink as unapproved service. That means there is no authorized way to sign up for a Russian address and expect the official Starlink service to work there.

(If you want to check Starlink’s global availability tool directly, Starlink’s official site offers an address-based availability checker — but it will not list Russia as an authorized market unless that changes.

How terminals still appear in Russia — the grey market

Although Starlink is not officially available, private sellers and resellers have appeared offering hardware inside Russia or selling to Russians via third countries. Investigations and media reports (from 2024–2025) documented Starlink terminals being offered by private shops or brokers, typically imported through third countries or brought in via transit hubs. These sales are not official SpaceX distribution and often rely on workarounds to activate service (accounts set up offshore, foreign payment methods, etc.).

Important: SpaceX has repeatedly said it does not sell or authorize sales to the Russian government or military, and the company disclaims authorised commercial operations inside Russia. Terminals used by unauthorized or sanctioned parties can be deactivated if identified.

Typical prices reported (black-market / reseller figures)

Because there is no authorized retail channel inside Russia, prices vary widely and are generally much higher than official retail prices in authorized countries. Reporting from 2024–2025 captured examples of reseller prices in Russia in the range of ~RUB 200,000–300,000 for a terminal (roughly US$2,000–3,500 depending on exchange rates at the time), plus additional charges for activation, account setup, and monthly fees arranged via foreign payment methods. These figures are market anecdotes rather than official list prices, and they can fluctuate rapidly.

If you compare with official Starlink retail prices in authorized countries (where hardware and recurring subscription fees are published), buying through the grey market typically costs significantly more once the risk and overheads are included. For official plan prices in countries where Starlink is active, see the Starlink service pages.

Legal and practical risks of using Starlink in Russia

1. Regulatory risk: Using unlicensed radio/communications equipment can contravene national communications laws and expose users or sellers to fines or equipment seizure in Russia. Local regulations about import, certification, and radio use apply.

2. Sanctions & export-control risk: Importing terminals through third countries can violate export controls or sanctions regimes depending on the route and the parties involved.

3. Service reliability & activation: Because Starlink does not authorize service accounts tied to Russian addresses, activation often requires foreign billing, offshore accounts, or reseller-managed setups — all fragile and potentially subject to deactivation if SpaceX enforces restrictions.

4. Security & accountability: In conflict zones, Starlink’s use has geopolitical implications; the company has, in past situations, taken steps (including deactivations or geofencing) to prevent misuse. That unpredictability is a risk for anyone relying on an unauthorized setup.

Have Russian forces or organisations used Starlink?

Open-source reporting and intelligence claims have at times alleged that Russian actors have obtained and used Starlink terminals (often acquired indirectly), but these are contested and typically involve illicit channels. SpaceX has maintained it does not do business with the Russian government or military, and the company states it would deactivate terminals used by unauthorized parties if confirmed. Independent investigations have highlighted weaknesses in third-party supply chains that can allow terminals to be diverted.

Russia’s response and domestic alternatives

Recognizing both the strategic importance of satellite broadband and the policy issues around foreign providers, Russian authorities and state agencies have accelerated plans to develop a domestic satellite broadband solution — a Starlink “analogue.” State statements in 2025 indicated plans for deploying a national satellite internet constellation in coming months/years, with substantial state and non-state financing reported. If a domestic service launches at scale, it will likely be promoted as the legal, sanctioned alternative to foreign offerings.

What if you live in Russia and want satellite internet?

Practical steps and considerations:

• Don’t assume Starlink will work: because Starlink is not licensed in Russia, buying a terminal does not guarantee legal service or reliable connectivity.

• Consider licensed local alternatives: use satellite or terrestrial providers certified by Russian regulators — these carry no legal risk and are designed to comply with local rules.

• If you need connectivity for critical uses: contact reputable telecom operators or international providers that operate legally in Russia or nearby authorised countries; ask about cross-border/maritime/international plans where those apply.

• Be cautious with resellers: if a local seller offers Starlink, carefully assess legality and the long-term viability of the setup; undocumented activation methods, cash payments, or offshore billing are red flags.

What to remember

• Officially: Starlink is not licensed or officially available in Russia in 2025.

• Practically: Terminals appear on grey markets and in ad hoc setups, but those come with legal, security, and reliability risks.

• Alternatives: Russia is developing its own satellite broadband plans; licensed local satellite or terrestrial providers are the legal route for residents and businesses.

FAQs 

Q: Can I order Starlink and ship it to a Russian address?
A: Not officially. Starlink does not support service registration for Russian addresses (no authorized retail channel as of 2025). Shipping hardware into Russia does not guarantee legal activation.

Q: How much does a Starlink terminal cost in Russia in 2025?
A: Reported grey-market prices in 2024–2025 were typically in the range of RUB ~200,000–300,000 for the terminal plus extra fees for activation — but these are unofficial reseller figures and subject to change.

Q: Will Starlink become available in Russia soon?
A: There has been no public announcement from SpaceX about licensing for Russia. Meanwhile, Russian authorities are pursuing domestic alternatives; whether Starlink will be authorized in the future depends on regulatory, political, and commercial decisions.