(Dan Tri) – American media said that Russia may have used billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system in Ukraine.
Ukrainian soldiers use a Starlink satellite internet device (Photo: Reuters).
Newsweek and several US news agencies cited sources saying that Starlink internet terminals appear to have been shipped to Russia through an intermediary country in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers say that the Russian military may have started using Starlink in Ukraine to maintain communications, a journalist from the Kiev side said.
This information has attracted attention on social networks, with some comments recalling that Mr. Musk seemed to restrict Ukraine from using the Starlink network in Crimea.
In addition, there are also concerns about US national security related to Mr. Musk’s Starshield contract with the Department of Defense.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the information.
Previously, Ukrainian journalist Andriy Tsaplienko first reported rumors about Russia using Starlink with a licensed account.
`They started receiving Starlink en masse, through Dubai, accounts were activated, they were deployed in territories controlled by Moscow,` said a Ukrainian soldier.
SpaceX, the company that operates Starlink, emphasized that the company `has no business relationship of any kind with the Russian government or its military.`
`Starlink does not operate in Russia, meaning the service will not operate in that country. SpaceX has never sold or marketed Starlink in Russia nor has it shipped equipment to locations in Russia. If orders
`Starlink also does not operate in Dubai. Starlink cannot be purchased in Dubai nor does SpaceX ship equipment there. Additionally, Starlink has not authorized any intermediaries, agents or 3rd party distributors
Ukraine has received tens of thousands of Starlink antennas since the beginning of hostilities with Russia.
Starlink allows the Ukrainian army to have a reliable and powerful information system.
Mr. Musk’s contribution is important because in modern warfare, with stronger opponents, having a strong communications satellite network is considered a strategic `weapon`.
Meanwhile, Russia believes that Starlink is a legitimate target, arguing that the US and its allies have been using `elements of civil space infrastructure, including commercial,
However, the relationship between Mr. Musk and Ukraine became tense in October 2022, after the American billionaire proposed that, to end the conflict, Ukraine should accept the Crimean peninsula as belonging to Russia and agree to be neutral.
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