Kyiv claims Russian forces using Musk’s Starlink in east of Ukraine
- 11 February, 04:49
Russian forces are using Starlink terminals produced by Elon Musk’s SpaceX for satellite internet in Ukraine’s occupied territories in the east of the country, Ukraine’s Defence intelligence has claimed.
Addressing the rumors of Russia’s alleged use of Starlink, the Ukrainian defence ministry's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) stated on February 11 that "cases of the Russian occupiers' use of the given devices have been registered. It is beginning to take on a systemic nature."
The defence intelligence said it based its claims on intercepted conversations between Russian troops.
According to the agency’s claims, Russia's 83rd Air Assault Brigade involved in the battles near Ukraine’s embattled Klishchiivka and Andriivka towns in eastern Donetsk regions, were among the units using Starlink’s services.
The SpaceX company that owns Starlink denies having any business ties with the Russian government or its military.
“If SpaceX obtains knowledge that a Starlink terminal is being used by a sanctioned or unauthorized party, we investigate the claim and take actions to deactivate the terminal if confirmed,” the company said in a statement.
The statement by Ukraine’s intelligence department follows Elon Musk’s recent revelation about Starlink satellite communication network’s involvement in the war in Ukraine. In his biography written by Walter Isaacson, Musk admitted that he ordered his engineers to disrupt Starlink communication network near the Crimean coast last year to avert Ukrainian attack on the Russian naval fleet. Musk said he was fearing possible Russian use of nuclear weapons in response.
