It’s been about a week since Russian troops entered Ukraine, wreaking havoc and killing citizens all over the country. Due to the loss of infrastructure in some areas, communication services have been cut off as a result of the war. After Russian soldiers invaded the country’s capital and purposefully destroyed some communications towers, Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, asked SpaceX founder Elon Musk for assistance in connecting communities to the Starlink broadband constellation. “While you try to conquer Mars, Elon Musk,
Russia is attempting to annex Ukraine! Russian rockets hit Ukrainian civilians as your rockets successfully land from orbit! We request that you supply Starlink stations to Ukraine and address sane Russians to stand,” Fedorov stated on Twitter on February 26. “Starlink service is currently functioning in Ukraine,” Musk said in response to Fedorov’s appeal for assistance. He said, “More terminals are on the way.”
Fedorov uploaded a photo of a truck loaded with Starlink user terminal boxes delivered by SpaceX on February 28. “Here’s Starlink,” says the narrator. “Thank you, Elon Musk,” he said in the post. “You’re really welcome,” Musk said. Ukrainian first responders and troops could utilize the Starlink network to communicate with one another and coordinate civilian safety actions.
As global tensions rose, Russian leaders learned of SpaceX’s efforts to aid Ukrainians, and Musk issued an important warning: “Important warning: Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still operational in some sections of Ukraine, thus the likelihood of being targeted is high.” On March 3rd, he said on Twitter, “Please use with caution.” “Only use Starlink when absolutely necessary, and keep the antenna as far away from people as possible.” To avoid visual detection, cover the antenna with light camouflage,” he suggested.
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