SpaceX will not allow Ukraine to use Starlink as a weapon against Russia

SpaceX took steps towards prevent Ukraine from using Starlink as an ally in the war. In accordance with BBC, a company under the command of Elon Musk will not allow a warring country to use satellite Internet for military purposes. The decision was made after Ukraine took advantage of the connection to control drones and find Russian troops.

Gwynne Shotwell, chief operating officer of SpaceX, explained that the company made this decision because you never intended to use the service offensively. Shotwell mentioned that the documents say that satellite internet Starlink is not designed for offensive or defensive military operations.. “There are things we can and have done,” the board said at an event in Washington.

The company stated that the Ukrainian military can use Starlink for typical communications purposes. While this was key to preventing the isolation of bombed cities, Ukraine saw a great opportunity to integrate this into its offensive strategy. soldiers control drones to know enemy positionsor bomb it or even fight Russian drones.

Solution outraged some Ukrainian officials, who criticized the move and demanded that SpaceX take sides. Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to Vladimir Zelensky, mentioned on his Twitter account that a year after the invasion, companies must decide for themselves. “Either they are on the side of the right to a free life and Ukraine […] or they are on the side of the Russian Federation and their “rights” to kill and seize territories, ”he said.

Podolak he later softened his position and stated that the supply of any weapons or vehicles was not indicative of the direct involvement of donor countries in the conflict.

Starlink played a key role in the Ukrainian war

From the first days of the Russian invasion, The government of Ukraine turned to Elon Musk for help to deploy the Starlink service in the region. As the attacks escalated, parts of the country were cut off by shelling and sabotage. Mikhail Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Digital Transformation, tweeted a request for help, which was answered by Musk himself a few hours later.

While Starlink played a key role in the conflict, its deployment is controversial. In October last year, Elon Musk said that SpaceX was unable to continue funding the service in Ukraine. The tycoon says the company can’t afford to ship more terminals, which use up to 100 times more data than a typical home. Musk refused after a few hours, saying they would continue to offer him even if he lost money.

A few months later, Fedorov announced that Ukraine would add 10,000 new Starlink antennas to enable citizens, government and the military to connect to the internet. The official assured that although they have twice as many active terminals, the new cargo will serve to stabilize communications in critical situations. “Ukraine can live a month without electricity if there is access to mobile networks,” he said.

Despite the benefits of SpaceX satellite internet, antennas pose a danger to citizens. Russia has a device capable of tracking Starlink terminals, making them a target for bombing raids. Elon Musk has confirmed that Vladimir Putin’s government is seeking to disrupt the service, either through local sabotage or through cyberattacks.