A Russian kamikaze drone shot down last week was found to contain a SIM card from Ukrainian mobile operator Kyivstar (pictured) per multiple Ukrainian sources on social media. Commentators speculated that the Russian military is experimenting with using Ukraine’s mobile networks to determine the location of drones that carry explosives and to transmit new commands whilst in flight. The credibility of this conjecture was strengthened when Kyivstar’s official X account responded by stating they are working with law enforcement to prevent this happening again.
Також хочемо підкреслити, що компанія співпрацює з правоохоронними органами України аби унеможливити повторення ситуації в майбутньому.
— Kyivstar (@TwiyKyivstar) November 30, 2023
The drone was said to be a Shahed model, as designed by Iran to carry munitions that explode when the drone crashes into its target. Large numbers of Shaheds have been used by Russia against Ukraine; earlier this year The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran and Russia will construct thousands of them in a new factory. The Royal United Services Institute, an independent security think tank, emphasize that Shahed is game-changing weapon because its…
…uncanny accuracy, long range and low cost, makes it unique among strategic standoff weapons. Its airframe, made from carbon fibre cloth and honeycomb, can effectively be manufactured by any DIY handyman.
Shaheds are known to be highly effective at hitting their targets without any need for a remote pilot to monitor its location or control its actions. They typically contain a commercial-grade GPS unit and a gyroscopic inertial navigation system. However, some have been capable of receiving instructions via satellite. The use of standard mobile phone technology shows how military innovation can seek to reduce the financial cost of manufacturing large numbers of deadly weapons whilst increasing the threat they pose. It also demonstrates why network operators need to maintain constant vigilance over how their networks are used and abused.
