Elon Musk's efforts to stop Russia from using Starlink satellites for drone attacks have 'delivered real results,' a Ukrainian official said. Praising the SpaceX founder as 'a true champion of freedom and a true friend of the Ukrainian people,' defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov mentioned that Musk quickly responded to reports of Russian drones using Starlink connectivity. These drones have been linked to several recent deadly attacks by Russia on Ukraine, including one on a moving passenger train which resulted in six fatalities.
Musk tweeted, 'Looks like the steps we took to stop the unauthorized use of Starlink by Russia have worked,' and expressed his willingness to take further action if needed. Starlink's high-speed internet service has been operational in Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
The drones in question are difficult to intercept as they operate at low altitudes and are controlled in real time from a distance, making them a formidable challenge in the conflict. The Institute for the Study of War noted that the efficiency of these drones has significantly increased since being equipped with Starlink technology.
Fedorov stated that SpaceX has limited the speed of Starlink terminals within Ukraine to slow down unauthorized drone operations. Furthermore, the government is preparing to implement a whitelist of approved Starlink satellite terminals, disconnecting unregistered ones, in collaboration with SpaceX. Despite concerns that these moves could affect Russian military operations as they also rely on Starlink for front-line communications, Musk's commitment to Ukraine's defense remains apparent. Fedorov, recently appointed as defense minister, emphasized his intention to integrate advanced technology in Ukraine's military strategy by closely cooperating with Silicon Valley innovators.
Musk tweeted, 'Looks like the steps we took to stop the unauthorized use of Starlink by Russia have worked,' and expressed his willingness to take further action if needed. Starlink's high-speed internet service has been operational in Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
The drones in question are difficult to intercept as they operate at low altitudes and are controlled in real time from a distance, making them a formidable challenge in the conflict. The Institute for the Study of War noted that the efficiency of these drones has significantly increased since being equipped with Starlink technology.
Fedorov stated that SpaceX has limited the speed of Starlink terminals within Ukraine to slow down unauthorized drone operations. Furthermore, the government is preparing to implement a whitelist of approved Starlink satellite terminals, disconnecting unregistered ones, in collaboration with SpaceX. Despite concerns that these moves could affect Russian military operations as they also rely on Starlink for front-line communications, Musk's commitment to Ukraine's defense remains apparent. Fedorov, recently appointed as defense minister, emphasized his intention to integrate advanced technology in Ukraine's military strategy by closely cooperating with Silicon Valley innovators.
