On Oct. 3, tech billionaire Elon Musk tweeted a strikingly ill-informed proposal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine—one that experts called both unhelpful and straight out of the Kremlin playbook. Among other measures, Musk suggested Ukraine cede Crimea to Russia and hold elections in other Russian-occupied territories. Faced with tremendous backlash from the public, including many Ukrainians, Musk on Oct. 14 announced his intention to stop supporting Starlink operations in the country and demanded the Pentagon pick up the bill. Then, in yet another tweet on Oct. 16, he reversed this decision, writing, “The hell with it … we’ll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free.”
Musk’s flippant statements came in stark contrast to his previously constructive relationship with Ukrainian authorities. In the days following Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion, Musk agreed to supply Ukraine with Starlink satellite internet technology—built by his company SpaceX—to ensure data connectivity for the country’s armed forces and civilians in regions that had experienced Russian cyberattacks or infrastructural damage.
Starlink is broadband satellite-enabled internet that provides connectivity without reliance on fiberoptic cables or mobile networks. Starlink terminals are compact antennas that can be installed on rooftops, cars, or even in the middle of fields—all they need is unobstructed access to the sky. The smartphone-operated hardware, which includes a terminal antenna and a Wi-Fi router, costs just under $600 and works in all weather conditions. Users pay a monthly subscription fee, and membership can be transferred to a new account securely to prevent device theft.
