T-Mobile
In the first year of Vladimir Putin’s “Special Military Operation”, Ukraine was ‘blind’ before Russia. Today we know it was a direct order of Elon Musk – and the decision changed the course of the conflict.
In September 2022, the Ukrainian troops were without the satellite service without notice.
An investigation of the point now that the fear of a climb has led the billionaire Elon Musk ordering the cut of the service.
A Starlink, o Satellite Internet System operated by Spacex, left the Ukrainian military forces unconnected during a Critical phase of war.
According to Reuters, who kept contact with several sources close to the case, the decision, which had a direct impact on communication capacity of the highlighted forces in the south of the country, it was PERSONALLY TAKING BY ELON MUSK.
The interruption of the service affected more than 100 terminals active in zones like Kherson and Beryslav, where a Key offensive against Russian positions.
This cut, executed from the United States after a direct order of the entrepreneur, left without internet soldiers who depended on Starlink To coordinate attacks, operate drones and establish contact with the high command.
Fear of nuclear retaliation from Russia
Sources linked to the company and the circle near Musk ensure that the decision was due to fear of an extreme response by Kremlin.
O Ukrainian advancement at risk territories that Moscow considered as their own, and the Possibility of a nuclear climbing It was, according to these sources, a shared concern between the ups responsible for the American administration and Musk himself.
As communications between the entrepreneur and government officials of the United States intensified in these weeks, coinciding with Russian threats Given the use of civil technologies in military actions.
The order to turn off Starlink was executed shortly after Of these conversations, although it was not able to find out how long the service was inactive.
The decision changed the course of the conflict. The cut of calls generated confusion between the Ukrainian military commands and Locked the expected advance In some front sectors.
According to one of the affected officers, “the siege of the Russian forces in Beryslav could not be completed due to the loss of communications”, which modified the strategy Operational of the Ukrainian Army for several days.
Later, the Ukrainian forces managed to recover the city of Khersonbut the episode made it clear to what extent they depended of a digital infrastructure under private control.
This fact caused a change in the relationship between Kiev and Elon Muskwhich was seen as a fundamental ally thanks to the beginning of the war.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Ukraine received more than 50,000 devices Starlink, many of which are funded by countries such as Poland, the United States and Germany.
These equipment has been essential not only for military operationsbut also to ensure the continuity of the country’s public services and digital administration in war time.
Technological dependence
The Starlink program provides internet to regions with scarce infrastructureshow at sea, in remote rural areas Or in regions where the government restricts access to the internet, and plays an important role for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
But even after the September 2022 call cut, Ukraine and Starlink had other disagreements.
In September 2023, Musk cut the internet again to Ukraine to, according to the Russian fleet in the Black Sea; and in March this year, accused Ukraine to be behind a cyberthrone to your social network xformer twitter – which was actually.
The absolute control that Musk exerts on the satellite network sounded the alarms in various western capitals. “Elon Musk’s global domain reflects the dangers of concentrating power in sectors without regulation,” he warned Martha Lane Foxmember of the United Kingdom Chamber, in a recent parliamentary debate.
Before possibility of new cutsUkraine began to study European alternatives such as the program Govsatcom.
However, both in terms of cost and technical capabilities, no other system still offers the same coverage and speed as Starlinkwhich reinforces the country’s dependence on Spacex.
Nonetheless, governments like those of Italy and Taiwan cautiously assess whether to incorporate Starlink into their defense systems. The fear does not only reside in possible cuts, but in the lack of guarantees about the confidentiality of data and the ability of Musk himself to intervene in strategic decisions.
