Kremlin: Starlink Can't Be Used In Russia Officially

Starlink antenna illustration. (photo: x @starlink)

JAKARTA - On Monday, February 12, the Kremlin said that Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet system did not have a license to use in Russia, and therefore could not be used.

Ukraine, which has used Starlink for military communications throughout its conflict with Russia, said on Sunday 11 February that Russian troops used Starlink in parts of Ukraine they were controlling.

"This is not a system that is certified with us; therefore, it cannot be officially supplied here and is not officially supplied. Therefore, it cannot be officially used in any way," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"That's why here, maybe, we shouldn't interfere in discussions between the Kiev regime and Musk businessmen," he said, referring to the Ukrainian government.

The Main Directorate of Intelligence at the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Sunday that the Starlink terminal was used by units such as Russia's 83rd Air Payung Deployment Brigade, which is battling near the cities of Klishchiivka and Andriivka in the eastern region of Donetsk.

In a post on platform X on Sunday, Musk said: "As far as we know, no Starlink is sold directly or indirectly to Russia."

"A number of fake news reports claim that SpaceX sold the Starlink terminal to Russia," Musk said in a post on X, which he also owns. "This is categorically wrong."