Ukraine Requests SpaceX's Help to Prevent Russia's Use of Starlink Terminals in Occupied Territories

JAKARTA - The Ukrainian government has asked for help from Elon Musk's space company, SpaceX, to prevent Russia from using its Starlink terminal for communications in areas occupied by Moscow troops. The Ukrainian government minister revealed this on Monday, February 19.

Starlink terminals were deployed to assist Ukraine following the Russian invasion in February 2022 and have become vital in Kiev's battlefield communications. Starlink states that it does not do business with the Russian government or military.

Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, told the Wall Street Journal this month that Russian forces were using thousands of Starlink terminals, having acquired them from private Russian companies that bought them from intermediaries.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, told public television Suspilne that Ukrainian authorities had been seeking action from SpaceX even before Russia's use of the terminal became known.

"We discovered an algorithm and made a proposal to SpaceX and are communicating with them to ensure that cases like this do not occur," Fedorov said. "SpaceX has done something similar with the Israeli government."

Fedorov said Ukraine needs the terminals to work in all areas "because special technologies related to drones are being used. There are other ways for our Starlink to work and others not. We are working with SpaceX on this."