Jump to content

Starlink in the Russo-Ukrainian War

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kyiv MayorVitali Klitschkoand his brotherWladimirwith delivered Starlink terminals during theBattle of Kyivon March 15, 2022.[1]

In February 2022, two days afterRussia's full-scale invasion,Ukraine requested American aerospace companySpaceXto activate theirStarlinksatellite internetservice in the country to replaceinternetandcommunicationnetworks degraded or destroyed during the war.[2][3][4]Starlink has since been used by Ukrainian civilians, government and military.[3][5]The satellite service has served for humanitarian purposes, as well as defense and attacks on Russian positions.[6]

Initially, SpaceX provided and funded Starlink services to Ukraine largely on their own.[7][8][9]As of June 2023Starlink expenses for Ukraine are covered by theUS Department of Defensethrough a contract with SpaceX.[10]SpaceX executives have declined to extend Starlink availability toRussian-occupied territories of UkrainelikeCrimea.[11][6]This was criticized by Ukraine as it prevented them from carrying out military operations in those areas.[12][13][14]Despite this, Starlink is considered to have become a reliable partner to Ukraine in the war,[15]and has become a substitute for modern encrypted real-time communication in warfare.[16]

In 2022, Elon Musk denied a Ukrainian request to extend Starlink's coverage up to Crimea during an attack on a Crimean port due to US sanctions on Russia.[17]This event was widely reported in 2023 as an erroneous claim that Musk "turned off" Starlink coverage in Crimea.[18][19]SpaceX executives said numerous times that Starlink needed to remain a civilian network;[20][21][11]in late 2022, as Starlink was being used as a tool in combat in Ukraine, SpaceX announcedStarshield,a Starlink-like program designed for government customers.[22][20]

In Russia, the use of Starlink to attack Russian targets has been criticized by government officials. Russia's military has repeatedly tried to disrupt Starlink services in Ukraine.[23][10]The Russian military reportedly also used to use Starlink with smuggled terminals.[24]This unauthorized Starlink use was eventually blocked.[15]

Through his company SpaceX and division Starlink,Elon Musk's involvement in theRusso-Ukrainian Warhas been significant, and met with concerns.[25]

Background

[edit]

Starlinkis a branch of American aerospace companySpaceX.They operate a largesatellite Internet constellationinlow-earth orbitconsisting of thousands of satellites.[26]Starlink satelliteshave been launchedregularly since 2019.[27]SpaceX had been negotiating to activate Starlink service in Ukraine a month and a half before the invasion,SpaceXPresidentGwynne Shotwellsaid.[28]According to her, SpaceX was waiting for formal approval when the invasion started.[28]

In February 2022, in the early days of the Russian invasion and amidst theBattle of Kyiv,Russia was conductingconventional offensivesandcyberattacksagainst Ukraine's communication infrastructure.[25]On February 24, an hour before the Russian invasion,cyberattacks outedthe satellite Internet companyViasatthat provided communications to Ukraine.[29]In order to defend themselves and to maintain Internet connectivity during the war,[25]Ukrainians tried various techniques such as using commercial radios - but they could be eavesdropped upon.[16]Eventually, Ukrainian officials deemed Starlink a potential solution.[25]Unlike conventional satellite internet likeViasat,Starlink internet access works in a network fragmented into individual parts.[29][30]

Because Starlink uses the narrow beam of theKuandKabands,the Starlink antennas are physically small.[31]Any signal that intends tojamStarlink needs a precise aim into the antenna.[31]This requires the attacker to get close to Ukrainian troops, in visual range of the terminals.[31]The data carried over the network is alsoencrypted,with software in the terminal programmed to block off signals without the encryption.[31]If the Starlink antennasteers itselftowards another Starlink satellite in view, it could point away from the jamming source.[31]These properties prevent Starlink from being taken out by a single Russian attack.[30][29]

On February 26, the Ukrainian government and Ukrainian ministerMykhailo FedorovaskedElon MuskonTwitterto provide Starlink assistance to Ukraine.[32][33]Musk agreed, and SpaceX responded by activating country-wide service, with the first shipment of Starlink terminals arriving two days later on February 28.[32]SpaceX leadership considered Fedorov's request to be approval of their own prior requests made before the start of the war.[28]

Those Ukrainians involved in bringing Starlink to their country "originally overlooked the significance of [Elon Musk's] personal control" over vital communications.[25]

Civilian use

[edit]
Starlink providing Internet to residents ofKupianskafterthe battlethat ended in September 2022. There were still no communications, power and water supply in the city.[34]

Starlink activated their service in Ukraine in February 2022 two days after it was requested to do so[35]waiving the usual monthlysubscription feefor the country.[36][37]Starlink kits delivered to Ukraine included the outdoor-mounted circular or rectangular satellitedish.[38]Detailed Starlink guides were shared online for Ukrainians after its arrival.[33]Ukrainian regulators allowed Starlink to be used by anyone, including ordinary citizens and businesses.[33]

Civilians have no reason to use Starlink other than in emergency and damaged regions with no good internet coverage, because Starlink is expensive by Ukrainian standards.[33]Despite this, Ukrainian officials have declared in 2023 that Starlink was now the core of their communication infrastructure.[39]

Ukrainian civilians have relied on Starlink to contact the outside world.[40]Starlink's personalconnectivity hotspothas been said useful forjournalists,resistance groupsand the elected government.[3]Civilians in war-torn areas could gather in "points of invincibility", where they had access to internet provided by Starlink terminals, among a set of basic amenities such as water, electricity, heating and light.[41]Starlink dishes and associated terminals can also be rigged to run off a car battery in areas without electricity.[6]

By April 2022, Starlink was officially registered and the Ukrainian government relied on it for various communication needs.[33][6]Starlink was used to transmit the PresidentZelenskyy's broadcast[6]and communication betweenUkrainian mobile operatorsback on,[33]with telecom companies also receiving Starlink terminals for emergency connection.[38]Ukrainian officials noted people would have had to wait several months for Internet to be restored otherwise.[33]

Starlink has been used to run parts of Ukrainian society like schools, hospitals[30](which received 600 terminals in a month from SpaceX[33]), the trains ofUkrainian Railways,[42]operation of critical energy and telecommunications facilities, support of thesowing season,planning evacuations and return of de-occupied territories to life.[43][38]Most towns on Ukrainian front lines had at least one or two Starlink terminals in October 2022, on which civilians could connect to like apublic Wi-Fi network.[44]150,000 people were using the system every day in May 2022.[6]MinisterFedorovremarked in 2023 that Starlink had saved lives by keeping the energy infrastructure running for doctors performing surgeries.[13]

By June, Starlink had helped restore mobile communication in theKyiv Oblast[42]and had been used to report on the worsening conditions inside the city in thesiege of Mariupol.[45][46]At the time, Starlink was still the only means of secure civilian and military communications in cities likeLysychanskandSeverodonetskwhich had not had phone coverage since April.[38]There, civilians could connect with their families while soldiers couldFaceTimetheir spouses from their base under-attack, using the service.[38]Later in November 2022 during theliberation of Kherson,Starlink also allowed phone and internet service to resume within a few days.[6]

Military use by Ukraine

[edit]

Starlink was first requested during theBattle of Kyivin early 2022.[47]Starlink is free for the Ukrainian military,[44]and since its activation, Starlink has been used to carry out military operations in Ukraine and is still in use on all front lines as of late 2023.[43][48]Starlink has been seen in use at numerous Ukrainian bases and been called "the essentialbackbone of communication"on Ukrainian battlefields.[49][25]Most Ukrainian units have one Starlink terminal, which is sometimes camouflaged with cardboard or trash to avoid being spotted by Russian drones.[50][51]In 2022, there was no official US legislative mechanism to authorize or restrain a military use of Starlink.[52]

In March 2022, SpaceX director of Starlink operations reported that Starlink kits allowedUkraine Armed Forcesto continue operating theater command centers.[53]These kits were vital and needed, as Russia focused on attacking Ukrainian comms infrastructure. The same month, the company provided voice connections for a Ukrainian special operations brigade. Starlink was also used to connect the Ukrainian military to theUS Joint Special Operations Command.[53]The same month, two helicopters ofOperation Air CorridorcarriedUkrainian Special Forcesfighters, weaponry and the first Starlink terminal behind enemies lines tobesieged Mariupol.[46][45]

Around that time, the Ukrainian military began to use Starlink to help connect and fly drones to attack Russian forces.[54]Starlink was also used to send back video to correct artillery fire.[49]Starlink enabled mobile networks with encryptedgroup chatsconnecting Ukrainian commanders to their soldiers on the battlefield.[6]The soldiers upload real-time images of potential targets while the commanders decide where to strike.[6]Soldiers have been seen retrieving Starlink terminals from damaged areas after missile attacks.[51]Drone-reconnaissance unit commanders drove with a Starlink terminal attached on the roof of their car.[55]Ukrainian drone operators adapted strike drones in order to strap a Starlink terminal on them, coming up with new "life hacks"when the setup no longer worked.[55]They suspected this use of the terminals could raise concerns from SpaceX.[55]

Support Forces of Ukraine soldier installing a Starlink terminal.

In April and May 2022, Starlink had key telecommunications role in theSiege of Azovstal,helping Ukrainian defenders to resist Russian troops inMariupol.[46]Thousands of Ukrainian troops cut off in Mariupol were able to use Starlink to send and publish online photos and videos to the outside world, before they had to surrender in May.[38]In May 2022, a Starlink-enabled Ukrainian Internetappwas the key component of a successful newartilleryfire coordination system.[56]By June 2022, Starlink was used in various ways, such as enabling the connection between Ukrainian army commanders and spotters on the roof of buildings miles away.[38]The password for Starlink terminals were written on infrastructure for easy access.[38]

In October 2022, Starlink services had to be requested by Ukrainian forces as new areas were liberated.[49]Ukrainian soldiers have reportedly praised Starlink, for reasons such as preventing their army from collapsing in disarray or the war from being lost.[6][38]

In March 2024, Ukraine's newly shown drone boat operated in the Black Sea while equipped with a Starlink terminal.[57]

Starlink terminals heat up in the summer heat. Ukrainian cool them to avoid the terminals from shining to much in thethermal imagingof Russian drones searching for them.[16]

Funding history

[edit]

Ukraine incurred minimal expenses for Starlink, asSpaceX,the Pentagonand other countries and entities contributed to covering the costs.[49]The satellite service was free for the Ukrainian military.[44]The more expensive part of the costs is not the terminals but the ongoing connectivity.[49]The terminals themselves cost $1500 and $2500 for the two models sent to Ukraine, more expensive than the consumer models on Starlink's website.[49]Meanwhile, service in Ukraine is just $60 per month, cheaper than the usual monthly price above $90.[58][59]

Early US support for Starlink came via theUSAIDwhich spent roughly $3 million on hardware and services in Ukraine, later than March 2022 according toShotwell.[60][49][61]The largest single contributor of terminals is Poland with payment for almost 9,000 individual terminals.[62][60]Other contributors include the UK, France, Germany, Czechia, NGOs and crowdfunding.[62][60][49][63]Some volunteers and foreign companies independently purchased Starlink equipment for Ukraine.[33]

By 6 April 2022, SpaceX had sent 5000 Starlink terminals. 3667 or 73% of those were donated by SpaceX, which also removed the monthly service fees, whileUSAIDhad purchased the balance of the terminals.[64][7]By mid August 2022, Ukraine internet service was being provided by more than 20,000 Starlink terminals.[49]85% of the 20,000 terminals in Ukraine were paid (sometimes partially) for by countries like the US or Poland, or other entities.[49][62][60]Those entities also paid for about 30% of the Internet connectivity, which SpaceX says $4500 each month per unit for the most advanced service.[49]At the time, the US had provided almost 1,700 terminals.[49]The same month, Musk tweeted the operation had cost SpaceX $80 million and would exceed $100 million by the end of year.[49]

By December 2022, Ukraine had secured additional funding for Starlink from several European countries, and a Ukrainian official stated that "all financial issues have been resolved."[9]In early 2023, SpaceX made a deal with the US and European governments to pay for another 100,000 new satellite dishes to Ukraine.[49]In February 2023, Ukrainian ministerMykhailo Fedorovcalled Musk "one of the biggest private donors of [Ukraine's] future victory," estimating SpaceX's contributions at the time as over $100 million.[13][63]As of May 2024, Poland continues to pay subcription fees for more than 20 thousand terminals it has bought for Ukraine.[65]

Pentagon contracts

[edit]

In July 2022, Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of UkraineValerii Zaluzhnyidirectly requested to Elon Musk 6,200 more Starlink terminals for the Ukrainian military and intelligence services and 500 per month going forward to offset the losses.[49]SpaceX responded by asking Zaluzhniy to ask the Department of Defense.[49]An outside consultant for SpaceX said the company "faced difficult decisions" and did not think SpaceX had the financial ability to provide any additional terminals or service requested by the Ukrainian General.[49]

In September 2022, SpaceX wrote in a letter tothe Pentagon"We are not in a position to further donate terminals to Ukraine, or fund the existing terminals for an indefinite period of time", asking the Pentagon to take over financing.[66][67]These costs totaled to $124 million for the remainder of 2022, and would reach almost $380 million for a full year according to the senior defense official.[49]At the time, some senior defense officials at the Pentagon were worried Musk could turn off Starlink in Ukraine, which would have impacted the Ukrainians.[25]

By October 2022, SpaceX said it had paid for about 70% of the service provided to Ukraine and claims to have offered that highest level – $4,500 a month – to all terminals in Ukraine, despite the majority only having signed on for the cheaper $500 per month service.[49]Which CNN noted represented 1.3% of the service rate SpaceX said it needed the Pentagon to start paying.[49]This was interpreted by CNN as an attempt by SpaceX to obtain government funding, or a disinterest in the war.[49]

On October 14, 2022, Musk warned the service was costing Starlink $20 million per month and stated it could not go on indefinitely.[8][68][69]At that time, Shotwell had already begun discussions with the Pentagon to fund Starlink for Ukraine, independently from Elon Musk.[70][71][72]

During the discussions between the Pentagon and SpaceX in October 2022, the Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary was asked about the invocation of theDefense Production Actagainst Starlink in Ukraine.[72]This law allows the government to give orders to private companies for national defense, and take action to restrict hoarding of needed supplies.[73]The Defense secretary answered that she was not aware of this law being looked into being invoked for Starlink or anySATCOMcapability.[72]

The Pentagon deal was then leaked in the press, while Musk was sharing a controversialUkraine peace plan.[74]The situation garnered negative reactions in the medias, and a Ukrainian ambassador publicly told him to "fuck off".[74]Musk then reconsidered the deal and tweeted on October 15 that SpaceX would continue to fund Starlink service in Ukraine for free.[69]According to biographerWalter Isaacson,Shotwell was livid at Musk's reversal, asserting "The Pentagon had a $145 million check ready to hand to me, literally."[21]Quoted by Isaacson, Shotwell stated "Elon succumbed to the bullshit on Twitter and to the haters at the Pentagon who leaked the story."[21]Musk then added "Even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we’ll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free."[75]

In late 2022, SpaceX announcedStarshield,a separate Starlink service designed for government entities and military agencies.[76][77][78][31]Starshield enables the DoD to own or lease Starshield satellites for partners and allies.[76]Cybernewsremarked that Starshield was first announced in late 2022, when the war in Ukraine "revealed Starlink’s importance in modern warfare".[22]While Starlink had not been adapted for military use, Starshield has the usual requirements for mobile military systems like encryptions and anti-jam capabilities.[31]The one-year Starshield contract was awarded on September 1, 2023.[20]The contract is expected to support 54 mission partners across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.[20]Elon Musk stated that "Starlink needs to be a civilian network, not to participate in combat. Starshield will be owned the US government and controlled theUS space force".This is the right order of things".[20]

In June 2023, theDepartment of Defenseofficialized a contract with Shotwell's SpaceX to buy Starlink satellite services for Ukraine.[10]The deal includes the Pentagon buying 400-500 Starlink terminals for Ukraine, giving the Pentagon control of where Starlink works inside the country without fear of interruption.[79]The terms of services of the final contract were undisclosed for security issues.[10]Following the contract, The Pentagon stated Starlink was a "vital layer in Ukraine's overall communications network" amidst "a range of global partners to ensure Ukraine has the capabilities they need."[10]

Restrictions and disruptions

[edit]
Approximate Starlink coverage of Ukraine as of September 2023, according to the official map on the Starlink website.[80]Areas along the Belarusian and Russian borders,Crimea,and parts of theDonbasare not covered.[80]

SpaceX has continued to restrict the use of Starlink Internet services outside the borders of Ukraine, including inRussian-occupied territories in Ukraine.[80]It has done so usinggeofencing,which consists in accurately limiting the availability of the service to only certain areas.[39]SpaceX has also limited Ukraine's ability to use Starlink for military purposes such as drone control.[81]

Ukrainian officials have acknowledged their over-reliance on Starlink but could not find an equivalent in terms of coverage or quality of service.[39]A US Department of Defense official said in 2022 that other entities existed to provide communications on the battlefields in Ukraine as an alternative to Starlink.[72]A contractual arrangement with SpaceX for Starlink in Ukraine, as well asStarshield,a separate military-focused version of Starlink, seem to have been the solutions chosen by the DoD and SpaceX against the restrictions.[25][77][76]

Motives

[edit]

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has vowed against the use of his company's Starlink for the military.[21]He has openly declared that Starlink was not meant to be involved in wars, citing peaceful activities like entertainment or online school instead ofdrone strikes.[21]Gwynne Shotwell,President of SpaceX and Starlink, largely aligns to this viewpoint.[11]

Starlink legal documents claim it is not for use in weaponry as a military use of Starlink brings it under US export control laws like theInternational Traffic in Arms Regulations(ITAR) or theExport Administration Regulations(EAR).[82]

On February 8, 2023Gwynne Shotwell,President of Starlink, announced that the company had taken measures to prevent the use of Starlink service to controlcombat drones.[83]SpaceXrestricted the licensing of Starlink communication technology to exclude direct military use of Starlink on weapon systems, such as the Ukraine use of Starlink antennas onuncrewed surface vehicles.[84]The same month, Elon Musk reiterated on Twitter "We will not enable escalation of conflict that may lead toWW3".[25]

Ukrainians commanders had previously hypothesized that SpaceX could not selectively disable Starlink terminals used for drone strikes, forcing SpaceX to either ignore the issue or to switch off all terminals and start negotiating with the Pentagon for a military contract.[55]

Shotwell has stated that "Ukrainians have leveraged [Starlink] in ways that were unintentional and not part of any agreement", as the free service was intended for humanitarian and defense purposes such as "providing broadband internet to hospitals, banks and families affected by Russia's invasion".[83][11]Shotwell explained that her company agreed with Ukraine's military using Starlink for communications but never intended to have them use it as a weapon.[11]She added "But then they started putting them on f---ing drones trying to blow up Russian ships. I’m happy to donate services for ambulances and hospitals and mothers [...] But it’s wrong to pay for military drone strikes."[30]

Shotwell's statement drew criticism from supporters and politicians of Ukraine such as PresidentVolodymyr ZelenskyyandMykhailo Podolyak.[13]A Ukrainian military official called her statement "strange" given that the country's use of Starlink as a combat tool is well-established.[13]Podolyak commented that companies had to decide if they were "on the side of the right to freedom" or "on the Russian Federation's side and its 'right' to kill and seize territories".[12][81]

Outages

[edit]

Communications black-outs happened in October 2022 when Ukrainian soldiers moved intoRussian-contested areasin Southern Ukraine.[30][25]Ukrainian forces reported major Starlink outages across the front line, resulting in "catastrophic" losses of communication.[85]Starlink did not work very close or beyond the frontline into Russian-controlled territories, as well as in very recently regained areas whose liberation had not yet been made public.[85][25][86]

Ukrainian and American officials said this caused units to become isolated, commanders risking themselves to get in radio range of the front lines, higher operational costs and loss of lives.[25][30]Several Ukrainian officials criticizing Starlink, speaking of widespread connection failures.[85]The loss of communications prevented the Ukrainian military to defend themselves and coordinate their attacks in those areas, and had to retreat as a result.[25][30]Outages were acute inKhersonandZaporizhzhiaand occurred also inKharkivand theDonbas.[85]Starlink still functioned in newly liberated territory east ofIzyum,in the southern Kherson region[85]and for drone-reconnaissance aroundBakhmut.[55]Ukrainian forces suspected the connection failures were due to SpaceX trying to curb the use of Starlink terminals on strike drones, or changes in the way the Starlinkgeofencingworked.[55][63]

Naval Newswrote that SpaceX restrictions of direct military use of Starlink could potentially shift the balance of power in thenaval war in the Black Sea.[84]Senior defense officials atthe Pentagontried to solve the problem in several meetings but were not used to not having leverage on a private entity.[25]The Pentagon sought a contractual arrangement withSpaceXthat would prevent the company from being able to cease Starlink services in Ukraine on their own.[25](see above:§Pentagon contracts)

In February 2023, Fedorov reported "no problems with the operation of Starlink uplink terminals in Ukraine."[63]A ministry official familiar with the situation said cities near the war's front lines found no indications of trouble with Starlink coverage.[13]

Technical restrictions intended to keep Russian forces from using Starlink have hurt service for Ukrainian soldiers along the front line.[87]Disruptions also happened due to theMay 2024 solar storms.[87]

[edit]

Incident

[edit]

In September 2022, a Ukrainianunmanned surface vehicle(USV) with a Starlink terminal attached to its stern washed up in the Crimean city ofSevastopol.[6][88]The naval drone has been assumed to be for reconnaissance, but may have also appeared to carry munitions and act as a bomb.[88]Several experts noted that the sensors on the front of the naval drone could be used as alaser range finderto help in targeting.[88]

In September 2022, Ukrainiandrone boatsstrapped with explosives were attempting a sneak attack the Russian fleet in Sevastopol using Starlink to guide them to target.[49][14][89]This was the first time Ukraine attempted such an attack.[90]Ukraine requested Musk to enable Starlink up to Crimea.[18][14]Musk declined the request but did not disable any existing coverage.[18]The Atlanticsaid that some drone boats lost connectivity and washed ashore without exploding.[91]Brigadier General of theSecret Service of Ukrainestated that most of the drones then sank in the sea or self-destructed on the way to the bay.[92]The Ukrainian team tried to return the vessels back to the base,[90]but only two drone [boats] returned to the Ukrainian base undamaged.[90][91]Members of the team said the two vessels that came back provided invaluable information on communication, navigation, hull.[90]

One of the participant of the operation recalls from his point of view: "We were 70 kilometres away from theAdmiral Makarov frigate.Everyone was on edge, as we were going to attack it. And then, our communication was cut off. Elon Musk switched off Starlink, which we used to control the vessels. "[90]According to another participant in a bunker, "Fedorov tried to persuade him, but Musk did not listen. Our people also tried to resolve the situation through their channels, but the Americans said that it was a private company, and they couldn't put pressure on it."[90]

A military laboratory of the Ukrainian Security Service and Navy studied and took everything into account,[90]and a month later in late October 2022, seven similar black naval drones were used to mount asuccessful drone attackon theSevastopol Naval basein Crimea, where the RussianBlack Sea fleetis stationed.[6][93]

Reactions and misinformation over Musk's decision

[edit]

A year later in September 2023,Walter Isaacsonerroneously described inhis Elon Musk biographythat the latter had "secretly" told his engineers to "turn off" Starlink coverage within 100 kilometers of the Crimean coast, however this claim was later retracted by Isaacson as a mistake.[18][19]The major biography claim prompted a backlash, several allegations and criticism against Musk for "deliberately disrupting the operation".[92][94][95]

Isaacson quickly corrected that "the Ukrainians THOUGHT coverage was enabled all the way to Crimea, but it was not. They asked Musk to enable it for their drone sub attack on the Russian fleet. Musk did not enable it [...] because he thought that would cause a major war.”[96][18][97]Isaacson explained that "Based on my conversations with Musk, I mistakenly thought the policy to not allow Starlink to be used for an attack on Crimea had been first decided on the night of the Ukrainian attempted sneak attack that night.” According to Isaacson, Musk said that the policy [of no Starlink Crimean coverage] had been implemented earlier [than the night of the attack], but the Ukrainians did not know it. The night of the attack, Musk reaffirmed the policy [to the Ukrainians involved].[96]

Ukrainian generalKyrylo Budanovdeclared being "not sure that Elon Musk operated some mythical buttons and stopped the movement of some devices. This is my personal opinion. The fact that the Starlink systems did not work for a certain time near the Crimea, I can absolutely confirm, because we also used a certain technique. We immediately realized that there is simply no coverage there [near Crimea]".[98][99]

The Washington Post,which had published Isaacson's opinion piece, corrected that "after the publication of this adaptation, the author learned that his book mischaracterized the attempted attack by Ukrainian drones on the Russian fleet in Crimea. Musk had already disabled ("geofenced") coverage within 100 km of the Crimean coast before the attack began, and when the Ukrainians discovered this, they asked him to activate the coverage, and he refused."[100]The GuardianandCNNalso added a footnote to correct the claim.[101][94]

Biographer Isaacson's mistaken claim[96]prompted theSenate Armed Services Committeeto probe the situation as a national security matter, raising concerns over Musk's influence over the war as a private citizen.[102]The Senate Committee on Armed Services launched an investigation on Starlink operations in Ukraine, citing "serious national liability issues" that have been exposed, and with the goal to ensure that US national security interests are protected.[103]US Secretary of StateAntony Blinkensaid letting billionaires taking decisions for national partners and allies was "unacceptable" and he was going to dig into it.[104]Ukrainian presidential adviserPodolyakresponded that civilians and children were being killed as a result, adding that this was "the price of a cocktail of ignorance and big ego".[39]

SenatorElizabeth Warrencalled for an investigation on Elon Musk and Starlink in Ukraine.[105]Following comments Musk made about Taiwan, Taiwanese Foreign MinisterJoseph Wutweeted "Hope Elon Musk can also ask the CCP to open X to its people. Perhaps he thinks banning it is a good policy, like turning off Starlink to thwart Ukraine's counterstrike against Russia."[106][107]Russian President Vladimir Putin – whom Musk claimed to have personally spoken to, then later denied this[108][109]– and other Russian officials showed appreciation for Musk following the Western media backlash over his denial of Ukraine's request to enable Starlink in Crimea for drone attacks on the Sevastopol Naval base.[110][19]

Elon Musk said Ukraine's intent was to sink most of the Russian fleet.[111]According to him,US Sanctions on Russiaprevented Starlink from being turned on near Crimea without approval from theBiden administrationsuch as apermission from the US President.[17][112]Musk said that the sanctions include Crimea, and that [SpaceX] is not allowed to turn on the connection to a sanctioned country without explicit government approval.[92]Musk added that if he had agreed to the Ukrainians' request without US government approval, SpaceX would be in a "major act of war and conflict escalation".[49][113]He also compared a successful hypothetical Ukrainian sinking of the Russian fleet to a "mini-Pearl Harbor".[111]The Atlanticclaimed that a week later another Ukrainian attack using a different communications system did hit their targets in the port of Sevastopol, causingdeterrencefrom the Russian Navy without escalation.[91]

Musk had talked withRussian ambassador to the USAnatoly Antonov,who warned him an attack on Crimeawould be met with a nuclear response.[91]To address concerns from DC, Musk explained in a call withBiden's security adviserand the same US Russian ambassador, that he did not wish Starlink to be used offensively.[114]Musk told Pentagon officials that he spoke withVladimir Putin.[108]Anne Applebaumwrote inThe Atlanticthat Musk's influence had been played byRussian disinformation,the latter having already been used in the Invasion of Ukraine as part ofRussia's information war.[91][115]

According to a space industry consultant, the controversy over Musk's decision to restrict Ukrainian forces’ access to Starlink in the disputed territory of Crimea appeared to underlie how the DoD wrote the contract withSpaceX's Starshieldmilitary satellite constellation, even though the details are largely unknown.[116]

Russian response and use

[edit]

Countermeasures

[edit]

The intervention of Starlink in the Ukrainian War against Russian forces has put the satellite service at risk of not being allowed in the Russian market in the future.[38]Russia has warned that Western commercial satellites used to help Ukraine could become a legitimate target for a retaliatory strike, describing such use of these satellites as provocative.[117][118]

Russia has tried to cut off andjaminternet services in Ukraine, including attempts to block Starlink in the region.[10]Russian cyberattacksagainst Starlink appear to have been ineffective compared to other satellite services.[6][118]Reasons advanced include SpaceX's speed of response and Starlink engineers' ability to defeat Russian jamming.[6]The director for electronic warfare at theUS Secretary of Defensedescribed the speed of the software response he witnessed to one attack as "eye-watering".[119]One document from the2022–2023 Pentagon document leaksdetails how Russia has attempted to disrupt Starlink systems provided by SpaceX to Ukraine.[120]Russian electronic warfare systems interfere with GPS signals, causing some problems with the Starlink terminals.[16]To minimize the issue, Ukrainians place the antennas in dug-out pits[16]or covered them in metal mesh to protect them.[87]

In October 2022, amidstUkrainian counteroffensivesin theBattle of Donbas,Russian forces reportedly disrupted a Ukrainian Starlink system in theSoledar-Bakhmutarea after they destroyed ashortwave repeater.[121]The same month, Starlink terminals were subject to Russian cyberattacks which were quickly prevented by hardening the service's software.[31][10]In early May 2022, the Russian head ofRoscosmosand politicianDmitry Rogozinsaid Elon Musk will be held responsible "as an adult" for having provided theArmed Forces of Ukrainewith Starlink satellites.[23][38]

On 18 January 2023, the Russian group "Co-ordinational Centre for the assistance ofNovorossiya"posted photos of acaptured Ukrainian reconnaissance drone.[122]Upon disassembly, the group stated that a Starlink antenna was found attached to the device, along with aRaspberry Picomputer and a CubePilot module. With an integrated Starlink dish, the drone would have had internet access anywhere it could see open sky. That would allow it to be controlled from anywhere in the world with a satellite connection.[123][124]

In August 2023, duringUkraine's counteroffensive,aFive Eyesreport found that Russian hackers plantedmalwaresdesigned to steal data to Starlink from theAndroidtabletsof Ukrainian soldiers.[125]Ukrainian Security Servicessaid to have blocked some of the hacking attempts and conceded Russians had captured tablets on the battlefield and planted malwares on them.[125]

[edit]

Until 2023, the Russian military did not have access to a Starlink-like equivalent, giving the Ukrainian military an advantage.[44]

In February 2024, Ukraine's Defence intelligence said to have confirmed the use of Starlink satellite communications by Russian forces in occupied areas of Ukraine.[126][127]According to Ukrainian military, Russian troops had been communicating over the Starlink system for "quite a long time" and were now using thousands of Starlink terminals.[128]For instance, byRussia's 83rd Air Assault BrigadenearAndriivkaandKlishchiivkain the Donetsk.[129][126]

Ukrainian media reported that Russian forces may have obtained the terminals via Dubai[130]or from private Russian firms that purchased them from intermediaries.[128]SpaceX said that to the best of their knowledge, Starlink terminals had not been sold directly or indirectly to Russia.[129]SpaceX said it does not do business with the Russian government or its military, and Starlink said that its service doesn't work in Russia.[131]SpaceX responded that Starlink cannot be purchased, shipped to or operated in Dubai. Starlink has not authorized any third-party intermediaries to resell terminals in Dubai.[132]Starlink terminals used by a sanctioned or unauthorized party would be deactivated if confirmed.[133]Russia said Starlink was not certified in their country and accordingly could not be officially supplied in Russia and was not officially used there.[134]Similarly to SpaceX's terminals,DJI's drones are sold in Russia without the company knowing or agreeing with the sales.[135]

Ukraine Intelligence released a radio intercept of the occupiers discussing the possibility of purchasing Starlink terminals via an Arab country.[136]In Russia, private sellers trade Starlink terminals operating only near the Ukrainian border, and personal user accounts to the network are connected through Poland.[136]The advertisements specify that the subscription fee starts at $100 per month and the terminal will have a home account already set up.[136]Ukraine has tried to prevent Russia from coordinatinating attacks using Starlink.[137]Videos from February 2024 showed Ukrainian drones destroying Russian Starlink terminals.[138]

Previously, Ukraine had contested Musk's decision to limit Starlink in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, because Ukraine wanted its forces to use Starlink for operations in those areas.[139]Later in February 2024, Ukraine complained that Ukrainians and Russians were now both using Starlink in Russian-controlled areas.[139]

If SpaceX introduced geofencing to stop Starlink use by Russia on the front lines, nearby Ukrainian Starlink terminals could also be affected.[139]Ukraine confirmed it still needed the Starlink terminals to work in all areas because specific technologies are being used linked to the drones.[140]Ukraine reassured that there are ways so that their Starlinks work but others do not, and that they were working on that with SpaceX.[141]On February 19, Ukraine communicated that they had found an algorithm, proposed it to SpaceX and were now working with SpaceX to disable Russian Starlink use.[142]

Russian forces were reported by theWall Street Journalto still be using Starlink terminals both in Ukraine and abroad in April 2024. The US Department of Defense has been working with Ukraine and SpaceX to curtail Russian use of the network.[143]In May 2024, the Pentagon and SpaceX eventually blocked Russia's use of Starlink satellites in the Ukrainian War.[15]

In September 2024, downed Russian Shahed-136 drones were found to be equipped with Starlink terminals.[144]

General reactions over Elon Musk

[edit]
See also:Views of Elon Musk § Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine

The involvement ofElon Musk(founder ofSpaceXandStarlink) in theRusso-Ukrainian Warhas been met with concerns.[25]Beginning in 2022, Musk has made several claims around the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which have been met with several controversies.[145]Meanwhile,Ronan Farrowremarked in 2023 that "There was little precedent for a civilian becoming the arbiter of a war between nations while the government has no level of control over his decisions".[30][25]His influence has been described as "more like [that of] a nation state than an individual".[30]A Pentagon insider commented in 2022 that "Elon Musk hasn't been elected, no one decided to give him that power. He has it because of the technology and company he built".[49]

Supplies

[edit]
This is adynamic listand may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help byadding missing itemswithreliable sources.
  • The first shipment of Starlink terminals arrived on February 28, 2022, during theBattle of Kyiv.[146]
  • 2,000 terminals were sent via Poland in the early days of the war. With 6,000 more terminals and dishes shipped a few days after.[citation needed]
  • By 6 April 2022, SpaceX had sent over 5000 Starlink terminals to Ukraine to allow Ukrainians access to the Starlink network.[147]
  • By June 2022, Musk said over 15,000 Starlink terminals had been sent to Ukraine.[148]The same month, Ukraine received a new batch of antennae for Ukrainian intelligence units.[149]
  • In July 2022, European countries had sent Starlink terminals to Ukraine from their own supplies.[150]
  • By mid August 2022, Ukraine internet service was being provided by more than 20,000 Starlink terminals.[49]
  • In December 2022, SpaceX had sent 22,000 Starlink terminals to Ukraine since the war began.[31]
  • In February 2023, 10,000 Starlink terminals provided by the German government arrived in Ukraine.[13][63]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^Kitsoft."Віталій Кличко: Пристрої глобальної супутникової системи Starlink уже в Києві".Офіційний портал КМДА - Головна(in Ukrainian).Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 11,2023.
  2. ^Elon Musk says SpaceX's Starlink satellites active over Ukraine after request from embattled country's leadersArchivedFebruary 27, 2022, at Ghost Archive,The Independent(26 February 2022)
  3. ^abc"Elon Musk's Starlink arrives in Ukraine but what next?".BBC News.March 1, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on July 9, 2022.RetrievedJuly 12,2022.
  4. ^@FedorovMykhailo(February 26, 2022)."@elonmusk, while you try to colonize Mars — Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  5. ^Sabbagh, Dan (February 9, 2023)."Fury in Ukraine as Elon Musk's SpaceX limits Starlink use for drones".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Archivedfrom the original on March 9, 2023.RetrievedMay 20,2023.
  6. ^abcdefghijklmn"How Elon Musk's satellites have saved Ukraine and changed warfare".The Economist.ISSN0013-0613.Archivedfrom the original on September 23, 2023.RetrievedJune 6,2023.
  7. ^ab"SpaceX, USAID deliver 5,000 satellite internet terminals to Ukraine".Reuters.April 6, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on June 6, 2023.RetrievedJune 6,2023.
  8. ^abLuxmoore, Matthew (October 14, 2022)."Elon Musk said the cost of maintaining Starlink terminals in Ukraine is approaching $20 million a month and SpaceX can't fund the service indefinitely".The Wall Street Journal.Archivedfrom the original on October 14, 2022.RetrievedOctober 14,2022.Elon Musk said the cost of maintaining Starlink terminals in Ukraine is approaching $20 million a month and SpaceX can't fund the service indefinitely [...] President Volodymyr Zelensky took to Twitter to question Mr. Musk's allegiances
  9. ^abBrodkin, Jon (December 20, 2022)."Ukraine to get 10,000 more Starlink antennas; funding problems are" resolved "".Ars Technica.Archivedfrom the original on May 19, 2023.RetrievedMay 19,2023.
  10. ^abcdefgStone, Mike; Roulette, Joey (June 1, 2023)."SpaceX's Starlink wins Pentagon contract for satellite services to Ukraine".Reuters.Archivedfrom the original on June 1, 2023.RetrievedJune 1,2023.
  11. ^abcdeRoulette, Joey (February 9, 2023)."SpaceX curbed Ukraine's use of Starlink internet for drones -company president".Reuters.Archivedfrom the original on February 9, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 9,2023.
  12. ^abSabbagh, Dan (February 9, 2023)."Fury in Ukraine as Elon Musk's SpaceX limits Starlink use for drones".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on March 9, 2023.RetrievedMay 20,2023.
  13. ^abcdefgBajak, Frank (February 9, 2023)."Musk deputy's words on Starlink 'weaponization' vex Ukraine".AP News.Archivedfrom the original on April 28, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 16,2023.
  14. ^abcBorger, Julian (September 7, 2023)."Elon Musk ordered Starlink to be turned off during Ukraine offensive, book says".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Archivedfrom the original on September 13, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  15. ^abc"Bloomberg: Pentagon blocks Russian military from accessing Starlink in Ukraine".The Kyiv Independent.May 9, 2024.RetrievedMay 11,2024.
  16. ^abcde"How Ukrainian soldiers beat the heat to keep Starlink running".www.msn.com.July 26, 2024.RetrievedAugust 1,2024.
  17. ^ab"Musk says he didn't turn on Starlink near Crimea due to US sanctions on Russia".The Kyiv Independent.September 13, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on September 14, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 18,2023.
  18. ^abcdeDarcy, Oliver (September 12, 2023)."An explosive Elon Musk biography is just hitting shelves. But the book's acclaimed author is already walking back a major claim | CNN Business".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on September 22, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 15,2023.
  19. ^abcCapoot, Ashley (September 9, 2023)."Elon Musk biographer moves to 'clarify' details about Ukraine and Starlink after backlash".CNBC.Archivedfrom the original on September 15, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 14,2023.
  20. ^abcdePorter, Jon (September 28, 2023)."SpaceX inks first Space Force deal for government-focused Starshield satellite network".The Verge.Archivedfrom the original on January 5, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 5,2024.
  21. ^abcdeKay, Grace."SpaceX president was reportedly upset that Elon Musk kept financing Starlink in Ukraine before Pentagon deal: 'Elon succumbed to the bullshit on Twitter'".Business Insider.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  22. ^ab"SpaceX's Starshield means Starlink has become a juggernaut".November 22, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on December 4, 2023.
  23. ^ab"Ілон Маск відреагував на погрози Рогозіна нібито через постачання Starlink українській армії".LIGA(in Ukrainian). May 9, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on June 11, 2022.RetrievedJuly 12,2022.
  24. ^"Ukraine says Russian forces obtaining Musk's Starlink via third countries".Reuters.February 12, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 15,2024.
  25. ^abcdefghijklmnopqFarrow, Ronan (August 21, 2023)."Elon Musk's Shadow Rule".The New Yorker.ISSN0028-792X.Archivedfrom the original on September 16, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  26. ^Grush, Loren (February 15, 2018)."SpaceX is about to launch two of its space Internet satellites – the first of nearly 12,000".The Verge.Archivedfrom the original on June 16, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 16,2018.
  27. ^"Starlink Press Kit"(PDF).spacex.com.May 15, 2019.Archived(PDF)from the original on May 15, 2019.RetrievedMay 23,2019.
  28. ^abcFoust, Jeff (March 8, 2022)."SpaceX worked for weeks to begin Starlink service in Ukraine".SpaceNews.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  29. ^abcSheetz, Michael (February 28, 2022)."Viasat believes 'cyber event' is disrupting its satellite-internet service in Ukraine".CNBC.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  30. ^abcdefghiMosley, Tonya (August 23, 2023)."Ronan Farrow says Elon Musk has become an 'arbiter' of the war in Ukraine".www.npr.org.Archivedfrom the original on September 8, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  31. ^abcdefghiTeam, ESD Editorial (May 30, 2023)."Ukraine's Favourite Dish".euro-sd.com.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  32. ^abcdefghi"Starlink в Україні: кому доступний інтернет від SpaceX та як ним користуватися".The Village Україна.April 29, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on April 29, 2022.RetrievedJuly 12,2022.
  33. ^"Як живе звільнений від окупантів Куп'янськ: фоторепортаж".РБК-Украина(in Ukrainian).Archivedfrom the original on September 6, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 11,2023.
  34. ^@elonmusk(February 26, 2022)."Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  35. ^Jin, Hyunjoo (February 27, 2022)."Musk says Starlink active in Ukraine as Russian invasion disrupts internet".Reuters.Archivedfrom the original on February 27, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 12,2023.
  36. ^Antoniuk, Daryna (September 3, 2022)."How Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet keeps Ukraine online".Kyiv Independent.Archivedfrom the original on March 20, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 4,2022.
  37. ^abcdefghijkTrofimov, Yaroslav; Maidenberg, Micah; FitzGerald, Drew (July 16, 2022)."Ukraine Leans on Elon Musk's Starlink in Fight Against Russia".Wall Street Journal.ISSN0099-9660.Archivedfrom the original on September 13, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  38. ^abcdKim, Victoria (September 8, 2023)."Elon Musk Acknowledges Withholding Satellite Service to Thwart Ukrainian Attack".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on September 14, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  39. ^"How Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet keeps Ukraine online".The Kyiv Independent.September 3, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on June 6, 2023.RetrievedJune 6,2023.
  40. ^"На Тернопільщині другий день працюють" Пункти Незламності "".oda.te.gov.ua.November 24, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2023.
  41. ^ab"Втратити вежі й мільярди, отримати Starlink: як мобільні оператори повертають зв'язок".LIGA(in Ukrainian). May 16, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on June 19, 2022.RetrievedJuly 12,2022.
  42. ^ab"Starlink intends to open representative office in Ukraine – Ukrainian minister".Interfax-Ukraine.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  43. ^abcd"Dispatch: How Elon Musk's Starlink Helps Connect Ukrainians on the Front Lines".WSJ.Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
  44. ^abSchwirtz, Michael (July 24, 2022)."Last Stand at Azovstal: Inside the Siege That Shaped the Ukraine War".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on September 26, 2022.RetrievedOctober 15,2022.
  45. ^abcLandry, Carole (July 25, 2022)."Inside the Azovstal Siege".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on October 15, 2022.RetrievedOctober 15,2022.
  46. ^Sheetz, Michael (February 28, 2022)."SpaceX shipment of Starlink satellite-internet dishes arrives in Ukraine, government official says".CNBC.Archivedfrom the original on September 13, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  47. ^Lyngaas, Josh Pennington,Sean (September 10, 2023)."Starlink in use on 'all front lines,' Ukraine spy chief says, but wasn't active 'for time' over Crimea".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  48. ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyMarquardt, Alex (October 13, 2022)."Exclusive: Musk's SpaceX says it can no longer pay for critical satellite services in Ukraine, asks Pentagon to pick up the tab | CNN Politics".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on October 24, 2022.RetrievedMay 26,2023.
  49. ^"Україна диджиталізувала свої бойові сили на межі можливостей".ГО "Жіночий Антикорупційний Рух"(in Ukrainian). January 18, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
  50. ^abSchechner, Sam; Michaels, Daniel (January 3, 2023)."Ukraine Has Digitized Its Fighting Forces on a Shoestring".Wall Street Journal.ISSN0099-9660.Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
  51. ^"What Does Starlink's Participation in Ukrainian Defense Reveal About U.S. Space Policy?".Default.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  52. ^ab"Хоч Ілон Маск і запевняє, що має благі наміри його позиція то допомагає, то шкодить Україні".speka.media(in Ukrainian).Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
  53. ^Parker, Charlie."Specialist Ukrainian drone unit picks off invading Russian forces as they sleep".The Times.ISSN0140-0460.Archivedfrom the original on May 9, 2022.RetrievedJuly 12,2022.
  54. ^abcdefLuxmoore, Matthew (February 10, 2023)."Soldiers in Ukraine Say Some Drones Affected After SpaceX Limits Starlink".Wall Street Journal.ISSN0099-9660.Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
  55. ^"Krieg in der Ukraine: Die Erfolgsgeschichte der ukrainischen Artillerie".YouTube.May 20, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on June 19, 2022.RetrievedMay 26,2023.
  56. ^"The Security Service of Ukraine showcased the service of the first sea baby drone".March 6, 2024.
  57. ^"How much do Starlink plans cost, and are they worth it?".Android Authority.June 14, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  58. ^"Starlink Internet Review 2023: Plans, Pricing, and Speeds".SatelliteInternet.com.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  59. ^abcd"U.S. quietly paying millions to send Starlink terminals to Ukraine, contrary to SpaceX claims".The Washington Post.April 8, 2022. Archived fromthe originalon April 10, 2022.
  60. ^Sheetz, Michael (March 22, 2022)."Elon Musk's SpaceX sent thousands of Starlink satellite internet dishes to Ukraine, company's president says".CNBC.Archivedfrom the original on March 27, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
  61. ^abc"Elon Musk: SpaceX Has Spent $80M to Support Ukraine with Starlink".Archivedfrom the original on June 6, 2023.RetrievedMay 26,2023.
  62. ^abcde"Михайло Федоров: Зараз на кіберфронті у війні з Росією перевага на нашому боці".РБК-Украина(in Ukrainian).Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  63. ^Office of Press Relations (April 5, 2022)."USAID SAFEGUARDS INTERNET ACCESS IN UKRAINE THROUGH PUBLIC-PRIVATE-PARTNERSHIP WITH SPACEX".USAID.US Government. Archived fromthe originalon April 5, 2022.RetrievedOctober 4,2022.SpaceX donated 3,667 terminals and the internet service itself, and USAID purchased the additional 1,333 terminals
  64. ^"Poland Funds 20,000 Starlink Devices to Support Ukraine's Military".Kyiv Post.May 7, 2024.RetrievedJuly 16,2024.
  65. ^"The Pentagon will pay for SpaceX's Starlink in Ukraine months after Elon Musk complained and asked it to pick up the bill".Business Insider.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  66. ^"Musk says SpaceX can no longer fund internet service Ukrainian military uses in war".PBS NewsHour.October 14, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on June 6, 2023.RetrievedJune 6,2023.
  67. ^Metz, Cade; Vinograd, Cassandra; Cooper, Helene (October 14, 2022)."Elon Musk says SpaceX can't fund internet service in Ukraine 'indefinitely,' stirring controversy".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on October 15, 2022.RetrievedOctober 15,2022.
  68. ^abMetz, Cade (October 15, 2022)."Elon Musk Drops Threat to Halt Internet Service in Ukraine".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on May 29, 2023.RetrievedOctober 15,2022.
  69. ^Foust, Jeff (February 9, 2023)."Shotwell: Ukraine" weaponized "Starlink in war against Russia".SpaceNews.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
  70. ^"Pentagon considers funding Musk's Starlink network for Ukraine - Politico".Reuters.October 17, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 17,2023.
  71. ^abcd"Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, Holds a Press Briefing".U.S. Department of Defense.Archived fromthe originalon September 17, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  72. ^"What Is the Defense Production Act?".Council on Foreign Relations.Archivedfrom the original on September 13, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  73. ^abThorbecke, Catherine (October 3, 2022)."'F--- off,' ambassador tells Elon Musk after unveiling Ukraine 'peace' plan | CNN Business ".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  74. ^"Elon Musk says he denied Ukraine satellite request to avoid complicity in" major act of war "vs. Russia - CBS News".www.cbsnews.com.September 8, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on September 16, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  75. ^abcErwin, Sandra (January 19, 2023)."With Starshield, SpaceX readies for battle".SpaceNews.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  76. ^ab"SpaceX - Starshield".www.spacex.com.Archivedfrom the original on December 14, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  77. ^Sheetz, Michael (December 5, 2022)."SpaceX unveils 'Starshield,' a military variation of Starlink satellites".CNBC.Archivedfrom the original on September 28, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 21,2023.
  78. ^Satariano, Adam; Reinhard, Scott; Metz, Cade; Frenkel, Sheera; Khurana, Malika (July 28, 2023)."Elon Musk's Unmatched Power in the Stars".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on July 30, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 12,2023.
  79. ^ab"Ukraine war: Elon Musk's SpaceX firm bars Kyiv from using Starlink tech for drone control".BBC News.February 9, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  80. ^"Starlink Terms of Service".Starlink.p. 8. Compliance.Archivedfrom the original on September 9, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  81. ^abA. O. L. Staff."SpaceX limits Starlink use in Ukraine, company president says".www.aol.com.RetrievedFebruary 10,2023.
  82. ^abSutton, HI (February 15, 2023)."Starlink Limits Ukraine's Maritime Drones At Time Of New Russian Threat".Naval News.Archivedfrom the original on February 15, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 15,2023.
  83. ^abcdeSrivastava, Mehul; Miller, Christopher; Olearchyk, Roman; Schwartz, Felicia (October 7, 2022)."Ukrainian forces report Starlink outages during push against Russia".Financial Times.Archivedfrom the original on May 19, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  84. ^Srivastava, Mehul; Miller, Christopher; Olearchyk, Roman; Schwartz, Felicia (October 7, 2022)."Ukrainian forces report Starlink outages during push against Russia".Financial Times.Archivedfrom the original on May 19, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 24,2023.
  85. ^abcMozur, Paul; Satariano, Adam (May 24, 2024)."Russia, in New Push, Increasingly Disrupts Ukraine's Starlink Service".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedAugust 1,2024.
  86. ^abcGault, Matthew (September 26, 2022)."Mysterious Sea Drone Surfaces in Crimea".Vice.RetrievedSeptember 10,2023.
  87. ^Copp, Tara (September 12, 2023)."Elon Musk blocking Starlink to stop Ukraine attack troubling for DoD".Defense News.Archivedfrom the original on December 14, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 20,2023.
  88. ^abcdefg"First surface vessel attack on Crimea failed as Musk turned off connection – UP".Ukrainska Pravda.Archivedfrom the original on January 6, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 6,2024.
  89. ^abcdeApplebaum, Anne (September 11, 2023)."What Russia Got by Scaring Elon Musk".The Atlantic.Archivedfrom the original on September 16, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 12,2023.
  90. ^abc"Ukrainska Pravda: Elon Musk shutting off Starlink communications disrupted Ukrainian attack on Russian navy".Yahoo News.January 1, 2024.Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 6,2024.
  91. ^Ozberk, Tayfun (August 23, 2023)."Ukraine's new underwater drone Marichka breaks cover".Naval News.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 12,2023.
  92. ^abLyngaas, Sean (September 7, 2023)."'How am I in this war?': New Musk biography offers fresh details about the billionaire's Ukraine dilemma | CNN Politics ".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on September 13, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 6,2024.
  93. ^"Ukraine: Musk defends Starlink decision on Crimea strike – DW – 09/09/2023".dw.com.RetrievedMay 11,2024.
  94. ^abcCreamer, Ella (September 12, 2023)."Elon Musk biographer admits suggestion SpaceX head blocked Ukraine drone attack was wrong".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.RetrievedMay 11,2024.
  95. ^Brodkin, Jon (September 7, 2023)."Musk refused Ukraine's request to enable Starlink for drone attack [Updated]".Ars Technica.Archivedfrom the original on September 26, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 20,2023.
  96. ^"Буданов прокоментував скандал із відключенням Starlink для ЗСУ".Главком | Glavcom(in Ukrainian). September 10, 2023. Archived fromthe originalon September 27, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
  97. ^"Буданов прокоментував скандал з Маском та відключенням Starlink".www.unian.ua(in Ukrainian). Archived fromthe originalon September 11, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 5,2024.
  98. ^"Opinion | 'How am I in this war?': The untold story of Elon Musk's support for Ukraine".Washington Post.September 7, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on October 1, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  99. ^Borger, Julian (September 7, 2023)."Elon Musk ordered Starlink to be turned off during Ukraine offensive, book says".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Archivedfrom the original on September 13, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 5,2024.
  100. ^"Musk's Denial of Ukraine's Starlink Request Prompts Senate Probe".Bloomberg.com.September 14, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on September 15, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 20,2023.
  101. ^Erwin, Sandra (September 14, 2023)."Senate Armed Services Committee to probe Starlink operations in Ukraine".SpaceNews.RetrievedDecember 15,2023.
  102. ^"Dem Congressman says he'll" dig into "Musk's role in Ukraine war".MSNBC.com.Archivedfrom the original on September 15, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 11,2023.
  103. ^Macias, Amanda (September 12, 2023)."Elizabeth Warren calls for an investigation into Musk and Starlink in Ukraine after biography claim".CNBC.Archivedfrom the original on September 15, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 12,2023.
  104. ^Shan, Lee Ying (September 14, 2023)."Taiwan slams Elon Musk, says it's 'not for sale' nor part of China".CNBC.Archivedfrom the original on September 15, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 16,2023.
  105. ^Davidson, Helen (September 14, 2023)."Taiwan tells Elon Musk it is 'not for sale' after latest China comments".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on September 15, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 16,2023.
  106. ^ab"Elon Musk spoke with Vladimir Putin directly, Pentagon official says".The Independent.August 22, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 12,2023.
  107. ^"Elon Musk denies he spoke to Putin about Ukraine war".BBC News.October 12, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on October 15, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 12,2023.
  108. ^"Putin hails Elon Musk as an 'outstanding person' and businessman".Reuters.September 12, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 13,2023.
  109. ^ab"Musk says he refused Kyiv request for Starlink use in attack on Russia".Reuters.September 8, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on September 15, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 16,2023.
  110. ^Quinn, Allison (September 13, 2023)."Musk on Starlink Scandal: Ukraine 'Not in Charge' of U.S."The Daily Beast.Archivedfrom the original on September 20, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 20,2023.
  111. ^Teh, Cheryl."Elon Musk says Joe Biden and the US government are the ones to blame for the Crimea Starlink debacle, not him".Business Insider.Archivedfrom the original on September 20, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 20,2023.
  112. ^Lyngaas, Sean (September 7, 2023)."CNN Exclusive: 'How am I in this war?': New Musk biography offers fresh details about the billionaire's Ukraine dilemma | CNN Politics".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on September 13, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  113. ^Snyder, Timothy (September 17, 2023)."Elon Musk likes to think he saved us from Armageddon. He's just brought it closer".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on September 17, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 17,2023.
  114. ^SpaceX providing Starlink services to DoD under 'unique terms and conditions'Archived13 December 2023 at theWayback Machine,SpaceNews,3 October 2023.
  115. ^"Russia warns West: We can target your commercial satellites".Reuters.October 27, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on October 27, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
  116. ^abBrown, Tara (August 5, 2022)."Can Starlink satellites be lawfully targeted?".lieber.westpoint.edu.Archivedfrom the original on September 26, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 28,2023.
  117. ^Duffy, Kate."A top Pentagon official said SpaceX Starlink rapidly fought off a Russian jamming attack in Ukraine".Business Insider.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 18,2023.
  118. ^Horton, Alex (April 18, 2023)."Russia unveils secretive weapon to target SpaceX's Starlink in Ukraine".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on April 19, 2023.RetrievedApril 18,2023.
  119. ^"RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, OCTOBER 15".The Institute for the Study of War.October 15, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on June 11, 2023.RetrievedNovember 29,2022.
  120. ^"Ukraine Might Be Modifying Starlink Dishes to Mount On Drones - ExtremeTech".extremetech.com.Archived fromthe originalon January 20, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 29,2023.
  121. ^Peleschuk, Dan (January 27, 2023)."Ukraine sets up drone assault units".Reuters.Archivedfrom the original on August 3, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 29,2023.
  122. ^"Ukraine May Be Fitting Starlink Dishes on Drones to Fight Russia".PCMAG.Archivedfrom the original on December 14, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 29,2023.
  123. ^abLyngaas, Sean (August 31, 2023)."Russian military hackers take aim at Ukrainian soldiers' battle plans, US and allies say | CNN Politics".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  124. ^abKostenko, Maria; Cullen, Simon (February 11, 2024)."Ukraine claims Russian forces using Starlink internet service".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on February 11, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 11,2024.
  125. ^"Ukraine says Russia buying Starlink terminals in 'Arab countries'".Reuters.February 13, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 15,2024.
  126. ^ab"Russia using thousands of SpaceX Starlink terminals in Ukraine, WSJ says".Reuters.February 19, 2024.
  127. ^ab"Ukraine claims Russian forces using Musk's Starlink in occupied areas".The Guardian.February 12, 2024.ISSN0261-3077.Archivedfrom the original on February 21, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 21,2024.
  128. ^"Russia using Elon Musk's Starlink on Ukraine front line, says Kyiv".www.ft.com.Archivedfrom the original on February 11, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 11,2024.
  129. ^Kostenko, Maria; Cullen, Simon (February 11, 2024)."Ukraine claims Russian forces using Starlink internet service".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on February 11, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 11,2024.
  130. ^Security, Ellie Cook; Reporter, Defense (February 11, 2024)."Russia's use of Starlink" systemic "in Ukraine: Kyiv".Newsweek.Archivedfrom the original on February 11, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 11,2024.
  131. ^Kostenko, Maria; Cullen, Simon (February 11, 2024)."Ukraine claims Russian forces using Starlink internet service".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on February 11, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 11,2024.
  132. ^"Kremlin denies its troops use Elon Musk's Starlink".Reuters.February 12, 2024.
  133. ^Reporter, Micah McCartney China News (February 29, 2024)."Starlink terminals sold in Russia despite Musk's denial".Newsweek.RetrievedMarch 1,2024.
  134. ^abc"UAWire - Ukraine proposes a way for Musk to disconnect Russians from Starlink".www.uawire.org.Archivedfrom the original on February 20, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 20,2024.
  135. ^"Ukraine says Russian forces obtaining Musk's Starlink via third countries".Reuters.February 12, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 15,2024.
  136. ^"Ukrainian Drone Operators Showcase Destruction of russian Starlink Satellite Systems (Video) | Defense Express".en.defence-ua.com.Archivedfrom the original on February 15, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 15,2024.
  137. ^abc"Russia using Elon Musk's Starlink on Ukraine front line, says Kyiv".www.ft.com.Archivedfrom the original on February 11, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 11,2024.
  138. ^"Ukraine Seeking Action to Stop Russian Use of Starlink, Minister says".U.S.News.February 19, 2024.Archivedfrom the original on February 20, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 20,2024.
  139. ^"Ukraine Seeking Action to Stop Russian Use of Starlink, Minister says".U.S.News.February 19, 2024.Archivedfrom the original on February 20, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 20,2024.
  140. ^"Suspilne: Ukraine 'working with SpaceX' to disable Russia's use of Starlink on front lines, Minister says".The Kyiv Independent.February 19, 2024.Archivedfrom the original on February 20, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 20,2024.
  141. ^MARROW, MICHAEL (April 10, 2024)."Pentagon working with Ukraine, SpaceX to prevent Russian exploitation of Starlink".breakingdefense.com.Breaking Defense.RetrievedApril 15,2024.
  142. ^"The Russian Federation installed Starlink on the Shahed-136".defence-ua.com.Defense Express Media. September 25, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 25,2024.Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed a Russian Shahed-136 that was equipped with SpaceX's Starlink satellite communication
  143. ^Metz, Cade; Vinograd, Cassandra; Cooper, Helene (October 14, 2022)."Elon Musk Foments More Geopolitical Controversy With Ukraine Internet Dispute".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedMay 11,2024.
  144. ^"В Україні запрацював супутниковий інтернет від Ілона Маска – Starlink. Яка швидкість та чи становить це небезпеку — Forbes.ua".forbes.ua(in Ukrainian). March 2, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on March 11, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  145. ^"U.S. Sends 5,000 SpaceX Starlink Internet Terminals to Ukraine".Bloomberg.April 6, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on May 2, 2022.RetrievedApril 8,2022.
  146. ^Duffy, Kate."Elon Musk says SpaceX has sent 15,000 Starlink internet kits to Ukraine over the past 3 months".Business Insider.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 20,2023.
  147. ^Zaxid.net (June 12, 2022)."Ілон Маск передав партію Starlink для українських розвідників".ZAXID.NET(in Ukrainian).Archivedfrom the original on July 11, 2022.RetrievedJuly 12,2022.
  148. ^"Elon Musk's Starlink is keeping Ukrainians online when traditional Internet fails".Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.Archivedfrom the original on June 4, 2022.RetrievedJuly 12,2022.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Starlink_in_the_Russo-Ukrainian_War&oldid=1248123285"