Elon Musk has acknowledged cutting off Ukrainian access to his Starlink satellite internet network in order to stop a Ukrainian drone strike on Russian forces. Musk did not order the deactivation of Starlink terminals near the Crimean coast but refused to enable them upon request from Ukrainian officials. The end result was the same: the terminals were inactive, communication was disrupted, and the attack failed. Musk’s decision came after speaking with Russian officials and concluding that a successful Ukrainian strike would lead to nuclear war. Ukraine has been relying on Starlink for military communications due to damage to its own digital infrastructure.
Musk provided a justification for his decision on Twitter, stating that activating Starlink would have made SpaceX complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation. However, his assumption that he knows what’s best for the world has raised concerns, considering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is itself a major act of war. Musk’s involvement in U.S. military operations and aid to Ukraine has been questioned due to his erratic behavior and apparent willingness to believe Russian officials.
Overall, Musk’s influence over Ukraine’s defense strategy has come under scrutiny, highlighting the concerns about one person having too much power. (250 words)