Leaked Files Allege China-Russia Cyberattack Plans Targeting Starlink Network

A new media investigation claims China and Russia held secret military talks about ways to counter SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network. The same files also describe plans for deeper defense cooperation between the two countries.

The investigation comes from The Insider, Der Spiegel, and Le Monde. According to the reports, the leaked material came from private military meetings held between 2023 and 2024.

The reported files include four presentations shared during a closed meeting in Guangzhou in November 2023. They also include a 10-page working agreement reportedly signed in Moscow in June 2023.

The investigation says the documents reveal a much closer military relationship between China and Russia than either country has admitted publicly. At the time of writing, neither government had commented on the reports. The documents have also not been independently verified by outside authorities.

Leaked Files Describe a Reported Plan to Counter Starlink

One presentation reportedly came from researchers at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). According to the investigation, the entire presentation focused on Starlink.

The files describe Starlink as an important military tool for Ukraine. The network reportedly played a major role in battlefield communications and drone operations during the war. The investigation says the presentation outlined a three-stage plan to reduce Starlink’s effectiveness.

According to the reported slides, the first stage would rely on diplomacy and international rules. The goal would be to slow the expansion of the satellite network through coordinated global pressure.

The second stage would focus on spectrum control and electronic warfare. According to the investigation, this phase includes coordinated jamming efforts designed to disrupt satellite communications.

The third stage is described as the most aggressive option. According to The Insider, the reported plan includes cyber operations aimed at Starlink user terminals. It also discusses the possible destruction of satellites in orbit using low-cost counterspace weapons. The leaked slides do not identify which weapons could carry out such attacks.

However, the investigation notes that Chinese researchers have previously studied ground-based microwave systems that could target satellites in low Earth orbit. The report also says Western intelligence agencies have monitored Russian work involving anti-satellite capabilities.

According to the investigation, these earlier studies provide background for some of the ideas mentioned in the leaked material.

Documents Reportedly Outline Broader Military Cooperation

The investigation says the cooperation goes far beyond Starlink. One reported document is a working protocol signed in Moscow during June 2023. According to Meduza, the agreement commits both countries to jointly develop a new integrated air and missile defense system. The reported goal is to intercept U.S. hypersonic weapons during the final stage of their flight.

The documents also list performance targets for the planned system. According to the reports, the proposed design aims to stop highly maneuverable missiles at heights of up to 40 kilometers.

The investigation says that the target would exceed the capabilities of some existing Russian defense systems. The leaked files also describe a growing exchange of military knowledge between the two countries.

According to Meduza, Russia would contribute combat experience gained during the war in Ukraine. China would reportedly provide advanced electronics, artificial intelligence technology, semiconductor components, and large-scale manufacturing capacity.

The reported cooperation also covers several military fields. These include autonomous drone systems, military aircraft, armored vehicles, and space technologies. The investigation presents these projects as part of a broader effort to strengthen defense ties between Moscow and Beijing.

Meanwhile, international law enforcement is working together to shut down scam operations. Authorities have dismantled thousands of accounts in a global enforcement operation.

Governments Remain Silent as Authenticity Stays Unverified

If the documents prove authentic, they could raise new questions about China’s public position on the war in Ukraine. China has repeatedly said it does not provide military assistance to Russia. However, according to The Week, the cooperation described in the leaked files suggests a much closer strategic partnership than has been publicly acknowledged.

The investigation does not claim that the documents have been independently confirmed. Instead, it says the findings are based on material obtained and reviewed by the reporting consortium. Neither China nor Russia had issued a public response when the investigation was published.

Without independent verification, the reported documents remain unconfirmed. For now, the claims rely on the reporting from The Insider, Der Spiegel, and Le Monde, along with reporting from Meduza and The Week. Until further evidence emerges or the governments involved respond, the reported military discussions remain allegations rather than established facts.