Ukrainian Government Approached Elon Musk to Connect Starlink Internet to Crimean Peninsula
In a surprising revelation, billionaire businessman Elon Musk disclosed that the Ukrainian government requested him to establish a Starlink satellite internet connection in Sevastopol, a city located on the Crimean Peninsula’s Black Sea coast. However, Musk firmly declined the request, expressing his reluctance to involve SpaceX in any military conflicts.
Musk took to the Link platform to announce that he terminated satellite internet services along the Crimean coast last year to prevent what he referred to as Ukraine’s “sneak attack” on Russia.
While Musk did not specify the exact timing of the request, he emphasized that he had no choice but to reject the Ukrainian government’s urgent plea to enable the Starlink signal in Sevastopol.
“It is evident that their intention was to annihilate the entire Russian fleet stationed there,” Musk remarked. “Complying with their request would blatantly align SpaceX with the war effort and instigate conflict.”
Ever since Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, their Black Sea fleet has been stationed in Sevastopol and used as a means to disrupt Ukrainian ports. This has led to an escalation in tensions between the two nations since the beginning of the war in February 2022.
The ongoing conflict has witnessed Russia’s Black Sea Fleet launching cruise missiles at multiple civilian targets within Ukraine, while Kiev has retaliated by employing naval drones to target and eliminate Russian ships.
In his forthcoming memoir, penned by Walter Isaacson and scheduled for release next Tuesday, Musk cites an incident involving Ukrainian bomb-laden underwater drones approaching the Russian fleet. “Suddenly, all contact was lost, and the drones were washed ashore without causing any harm,” as reported by CNN.
The book elucidates that Musk’s decision to deactivate satellite signals was fueled by his concerns that a Ukrainian attack would elicit a nuclear response from Russia, an event he wished to avert in order to prevent a “Mini-Pearl Harbor” scenario from unfolding.
In August, Ukraine boldly launched a naval drone attack on a Russian warship at the naval base in Novorossiyk, resulting in severe damage to the vessel. This marked the first instance of the Ukrainian navy demonstrating such aggression far from the coast.
Since the onset of the war, SpaceX has facilitated satellite internet access for both the Ukrainian military and civilians, thanks to contributions from the private sector. Additionally, the company has secured contracts with various US foreign aid agencies.
At present, Starlink boasts a network of over 4,000 low Earth orbit satellites.
In June, the US Department of Defense confirmed that it has enrolled in a contract with Starlink, procuring satellite internet services for Ukraine.
Source: Reuters
Elon Musk has revealed that the Ukrainian government asked him to connect a Starlink satellite internet connection to the city of Sevastopol on the Black Sea coast of the Crimean peninsula last year. to help send drones to attack the Russian fleet there, but he “refused” because he did not want SpaceX (SpaceX) to participate in the war.
The billionaire businessman posted a message on the Link platform that he shut down satellite internet service on the Crimean coast last year. to stop Ukraine’s “sneak attack” on Russia
Musk said he had no choice. As well as rejecting the Ukrainian government’s urgent request to “Turn on the Starlink signal all the way to Sevastopol.”
Musk did not say when the request was made. And the memoir doesn’t specify a specific date either.
“It’s clear that they intend to destroy the entire Russian fleet anchored there,” Musk said. “If I grant their request, SpaceX will be openly part of the war effort. and provokes conflict.”
Russia, which annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014, has sent its Black Sea fleet to Sevastopol. and use these fleets as a tool to block Ukrainian ports. Since the start of the war in February 2022
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet fires cruise missiles at several civilian targets in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Kiev used naval drones to attack and destroy Russian ships.
Musk’s new memoir, written by Walter Isaacson and due to be published next Tuesday, says as Ukraine’s bomb-laden underwater drones approached the Russian fleet “All of a sudden they lost contact. and was washed ashore without causing any harm,” according to CNN.
The book says that Musk’s decision to turn off satellite signals was because he feared that a Ukraine attack would force Russia to take over. “Nuclear Weapons” came out and he didn’t want the situation to escalate “Mini-Pearl Harbour”
In August, Ukraine sent a naval drone to attack a Russian warship anchored at the naval base in Novorossiyk, causing heavy damage to the ship. This is the first time that the Ukrainian navy has shown its power this far from the coast.
SpaceX has made satellite internet available to the Ukrainian military and civilians since the start of the war, thanks to donations from the private sector. and has contracts with US foreign aid agencies.
Starlink currently has a network of more than 4,000 low Earth orbit satellites.
The US Department of Defense said in June that the Pentagon has a contract with Starlink to buy satellite internet service for Ukraine.
Source: Reuters
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