By US technology billionaire Elon Musk revealed that he played a role in preventing Ukraine from taking action against Russia’s Black Sea navy fleet last year by denying Starlink internet access. This disclosure sparked a strong reaction from Kyiv on Friday.
Starlink is a satellite-based communications system operated by Musk’s company, SpaceX, and it has been in use in Ukraine since shortly after Russia’s invasion in February 2022. The network is essential for enabling technologically advanced soldiers to operate in areas where other forms of communication are unreliable.
Musk’s admission has raised concerns about the reliability of Starlink as a crucial tool for Kyiv, especially considering Musk’s previous proposals that have angered Ukraine, such as acknowledging Russia’s claim to sovereignty over Crimea, which has been under Russian control since 2014.
The incident in question revolves around Ukraine’s plan to incapacitate Russia’s Black Sea naval fleet based in Sevastopol, a strategic harbour in Crimea. This area has been a subject of contention since Russia’s occupation and annexation in 2014.
The Pentagon did not directly respond to inquiries regarding the acceptability of Musk’s actions as a US government contractor or any actions taken in response. Instead, a spokesperson stated that the Defense Department is aware of the situation and maintains contracts with Starlink but refrained from disclosing operational details due to security reasons.
Musk’s account of preventing the attack on Russia’s fleet came in response to information from an upcoming biography by Walter Isaacson, which claimed that Musk had deactivated Starlink in the Crimea area to prevent the attack. Musk countered Isaacson’s account, stating that the Starlink regions in question were not activated and that SpaceX had not deactivated anything.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and a senior security official, praised Musk in response to Isaacson’s account, mentioning Musk’s concern about a potential retaliatory nuclear strike. Medvedev referred to Musk as “the last adequate mind in North America” and called for a truce in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, emphasizing the loss of lives over small territorial gains.
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