Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has announced that the Starlink satellite internet service has been enabled for Ukraine. The move comes in response to a request from the government in Kyiv which is trying to halt a Russian military assault that may disrupt communications, among other threats.
Elon Musk allows Ukrainians to access Starlink
American billionaire and crypto influencer Elon Musk revealed on social media about Starlink activation for Ukraine. The satellite internet constellation is operated by Spacex, the aerospace manufacturer and space transportation service provider founded and managed by Musk.
The entrepreneur also tweeted that the company is sending Ukrainians the necessary equipment. Starlink’s low-orbit satellites provide high-speed broadband internet across the globe but access to the network requires the installation of a special antenna and modem.
Earlier Saturday, Ukraine’s Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov took to Twitter to address Musk directly:
Following President Putin’s order, Russia launched a military assault on Ukraine on Feb. 24. Since then, Russian forces have been advancing, encircling major Ukrainian cities. Authorities, citizens and members of the crypto community fear the country’s communications with the world may be affected.Internet monitor Netblocks has registered “a series of significant disruptions to internet service” since the beginning of the Russian military operations in the country, AFP reported. While Starlink operates more than 2,000 satellites, it was initially unclear if Ukrainians would be able to use the service.
“Starlink terminals are coming to Ukraine! Thank you @elonmusk, thank you to everyone who supported Ukraine!” Fedorov tweeted following Musk’s reaction. The government official also expressed his gratitude to the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, for the “quick decisions related to authorization and certification that allowed us to activate the Starlink”.
Ukraine, which was on the verge of regulating digital assets when the Russian military offensive started, has also sought assistance for its defense effort in the form of crypto donations. One of the largest NGOs involved in supporting the country’s military, Come Back Alive, has already received millions of dollars in bitcoin.
