Ukraine Says Russia Is Using Starlink at the Front Line, Prompting Pushback From Elon Musk

Russian forces are using SpaceX’s satellite internet system near the front line in occupied parts of Ukraine, Kyiv’s military intelligence agency said, potentially undercutting a major battlefield advantage for Ukraine’s army. Access to the system, known as Starlink, has enabled front-line Ukrainian forces to communicate via secure internet chat apps, allowing them to stay in contact without relying on cell or radio signals, which are easier to intercept. Elon Musk, who leads SpaceX and is its largest single owner, responded, “A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia. This is categorically false. To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia.” Starlink users need such terminals to connect with the network’s orbiting fleet of satellites to obtain internet service. Starlink said the service doesn’t work in Russia but didn’t address whether it could be used in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.