Since the beginning of the war, 20,000 terminals for contact via the Starlink satellites have been donated to Ukraine. Satellite communications that gave the country a decisive advantage against Russian forces. But now that could be the end.
According to a report from CNN, SpaceX founder Elon Musk (51) has announced that he can no longer fund the Starlink service in Ukraine. He has a fortune of $215 billion, making him the richest person in the world. But apparently the money is no longer enough.
So far, the operation has cost him $80 million, and by the end of the year, the generous donation is said to have passed the $100 million mark. The only rescue: a financial contribution from the US military of ten million dollars a month.
“We are unable to donate more terminals to Ukraine or fund the existing terminals indefinitely,” SpaceX’s sales director wrote in September’s letter to the Pentagon. Among the SpaceX documents sent to the Pentagon and reviewed by CNN is a previously unreleased direct request from the Commanding General of the Ukrainian Army, General Valerii Zaluzhniy, to Musk in July for nearly 8,000 additional Starlink terminals.
“SpaceX faces very difficult decisions here”
According to figures SpaceX shared with the Pentagon, about 85 percent of Ukraine’s 20,000 terminals were paid for by countries like the US and Poland. Those facilities also paid for about 30 percent of the Internet connection, which SpaceX says costs $4,500 per month per device for the most advanced service.
In a separate cover letter to the Pentagon, an outside consultant who worked for SpaceX wrote: “SpaceX is facing very difficult decisions here. I don’t think they have the financial capacity to provide the additional terminals or services requested by General Zaluzhniy,” he said. cnn.
“Starlink is the most important means of communication on the battlefield”
Musk’s request comes amid recent reports of widespread Starlink outages — including the Financial Times — on the Ukrainian frontline — which would prove fatal to defending forces. “It has hampered all Ukrainian efforts to overcome this front,” said a person familiar with the disruptions and speaking to CNN. “Starlink is the primary means of communication for units on the battlefield.”
Concerns about Musk’s loyalty are also growing in Ukraine. The Tesla boss recently tweeted a controversial peace plan that would oblige Ukraine to give up Crimea and relinquish control of the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.
After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (44) asked who Musk would side with, he replied that he still strongly supports Ukraine, but fears “a massive escalation”.
Starlink satellites essential for Ukraine
More than seven months into the war, the importance of the Starlink satellites cannot be underestimated, according to CNN. The Kiev government, Ukrainian troops, as well as non-governmental organizations and the civilian population rely on SpaceX’s agile, compact and easy-to-use devices.
The satellites are used not only for voice and electronic communications, but also for flying drones and transmitting artillery correction video.
“Starlink is absolutely essential as the Russians have targeted Ukraine’s communications infrastructure,” said Dimitri Alperovitch, 42, co-founder of the Silverado Policy Accelerator, a think tank. “Without this system, in many cases they would really be in the dark.” It is still unclear whether the US government will bear the costs for the satellites. SpaceX and Elon Musk also declined to comment on CNN. (chs)