Kiev has asked Elon Musk’s SpaceX to block Russian forces’ use of Starlink satellite communications system terminals in occupied Ukrainian territory, a Ukrainian government official said today.
Starlink terminals were widely used by the Ukrainian armed forces after the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022 and were vital for battlefield communications.
The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service, Kirill Budanov, recently told the Wall Street Journal that Russian troops were using thousands of Starlink terminals that they obtained with the help of middlemen.
Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov says there is a way to disable Starlink terminals used by Russia on the frontlines. 🇺🇦📡
Fedorov, in an interview with Suspilne, discussed his communication with Elon Musk about the use of Starlink by Russian… pic.twitter.com/SFaJSllWJR
— Dima Zeniuk (@DimaZeniuk) February 19, 2024
SpaceX, which owns the Starlink system, has said it does not do business with the Kremlin or the Russian military.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov said today that Kiev had approached SpaceX before the use of Starlink terminals by Russian troops was even known. “We found an algorithm and submitted a proposal to SpaceX, we are in communication with them to ensure that there will be no such incidents,” Fedorov said, recalling that “SpaceX has done something similar with the Israeli government.”
Source: RES-MPE
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