Elon Musk says SpaceX’s Starlink satellites are now active over Ukraine after a request from the embattled country’s leadership to replace internet services destroyed by the Russian attack.
Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion has left parts of the country without internet, while SpaceX has launched thousands of communications satellites to bring broadband to hard to reach areas of the world.
“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route,” the entrepreneur tweeted on Saturday.
The move came after Ukraine’s vice prime minister urged Mr Musk to help them out, as the SpaceX system does not require any fibre-optic cables.
Users on the ground access the broadband signals beamed back to earth using a kit sold by SpaceX.
“@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,” Mykhailo Fedorov tweeted.
SpaceX has launched more than 2,000 Starlink satellites into orbit since 2018, and plans to eventually have as many as 12,000 as part of its high-speed internet network.
Mr Fedorov took to Twitter to thank the SpaceX boss for his quick action.
“Starlink terminals are coming to Ukraine! Thank you (Elon Musk), thank you everyone, who supported Ukraine!” he tweeted.
The country’s official Twitter account also responded to Mr Musk’s action.
“Thanx, appreciate it,” the @ukraine account tweeted.
Mr Fedorov has also called on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Netflix and Google to block Russian accounts in response to the invasion.
“We’ve also asked (Netflix) for the support. We appealed to them to block the Russian Federation’s access to Netflix and shut off Russian content. We believe you do care. Let’s stop this disgraceful bloody war!” he tweeted.
