Elon Musk activates Starlink internet service in Ukraine after plea from minister
Moneycontrol
5 minutes ago
Elon Musk said on Saturday his company SpaceX's Starlink satellite broadband service had been activated in Ukraine, after the country's Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov pleaded with him to provide satellite-based communications to help resist Russia’s invasion.
"Starlink service is now active in Ukraine," Musk tweeted, adding "more terminals en route."
Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2022
Musk responded around 10 hours after Fedorov tweeted to him: "While you try to colonize Mars Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations."
Read more: Russia-Ukraine News Live Updates February 27: President Zelensky willing to hold talks with Russia, but not in Belarus
He also called on the billionaire "to address sane Russians to stand" against their government's invasion.
@elonmusk, while you try to colonize Mars — Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand.
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 26, 2022
Ukraine's official Twitter handle and Fedorov later thanked Elon Musk and the country's ambassador to USA Oksana Markarova for swift decisions that allowed us to activate the Starlink in Ukraine.
Starlink terminals are coming to Ukraine! Thank you @elonmusk, thank you everyone, who supported Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/xHDYHunhsW
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 26, 2022
Special thanks to in the USA @OMarkarova for swift decisions related to authorization and certification that allowed us to activate the Starlink in Ukraine.
thanx, appreciate it https://t.co/OWm2Yu2WKC
— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) February 26, 2022
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 26, 2022
Ukraine has seen a "series of significant disruptions to internet service" since Russia launched military operations in the country on Thursday and Starlink operates a constellation of more than 2,000 satellites that aim to provide internet access across the planet.
The internet has been lauding Musk's decision to help Ukraine.