Elon Musk activate Starlink in Ukraine after vice prime minister’s desperate plea
The billionaire SpaceX founder has made a major move to help Ukraine, as the country continues to be bombarded by Russian rockets and missiles.
Elon Musk has activated his Starlink internet services in war-torn Ukraine after Russian attacks cut tens-of- thousands of people off from each other and the outside world.
Musk announced Starlink was active after Ukraine’s vice prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov begged the SpaceX billionaire for help with communication satellites.
“@elonmusk, while you try to colonise Mars — Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people!” Fedorov, and the country’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, tweeted: “We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand.”
Musk responded swiftly, and 10 hours later tweeted this response.
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“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.”
It came as Ukraine faced a third day of assaults from Russia and troops continued their assault on Kyiv.
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Musk has via SpaceX launched thousands of Starlink satellites into Earth’s orbit, increasing broadband service in parts of the world. The satellites help carry large amounts of information rapidly to any point on Earth, avoiding the need for fibre-optic cables.
The satellites could provide data links to areas of Ukraine that have lost internet access during the war. Many parts have already had internet services knocked out.
The Starlink system was used in Tonga in January after the massive eruption an underwater volcano that triggered a tsunami that inflicted major damage and cut communications between remote villages
Originally published as Elon Musk activate Starlink in Ukraine after vice prime minister’s desperate plea
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