Musk warns turning off Starlink could cripple Ukraine’s defence

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has warned that Ukraine's frontline defences would collapse if he "turned off" his Starlink satellite internet system, which has been vital for military communications since Russia's invasion in 2022.

In a post on X, Musk expressed his frustration with the ongoing conflict, which he described as a "stalemate" that Ukraine is "inevitably" set to lose, Caliber.Az reports.

Musk wrote, “I literally challenged Putin to one on one physical combat over Ukraine and my Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army. Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off. What I am sickened by (This) years of slaughter in a stalemate that Ukraine will inevitably lose. Anyone who really cares, really thinks and really understands wants the meat grinder to stop. PEACE NOW.”

Musk’s comments followed his earlier remark where he labelled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "evil" for prolonging the war. “Zelenskyy wants a forever war, a never-ending graft meat grinder. This is evil,” Musk had stated, adding that the Ukrainian leader should be offered amnesty in a neutral country in exchange for a peaceful resolution.

The billionaire also made headlines after calling for sanctions on Ukraine's top oligarchs. "Place sanctions on the top 10 Ukrainian oligarchs, especially the ones with mansions in Monaco, and this will stop immediately. That is the key to the puzzle," Musk wrote, responding to a query on who funded the massive Ukrainian flag that demonstrators had unfurled near the White House.

Earlier this week, Musk echoed concerns regarding Zelenskyy's intentions, agreeing with a post that accused him of prolonging the conflict to maintain power. “True. As distasteful as it is, Zelenskyy should be offered some kind of amnesty in a neutral country in exchange for a peaceful transition back to democracy in Ukraine,” he stated.

Musk’s statements add to the ongoing debate about the role of Starlink in Ukraine’s war effort. The satellite internet service has been indispensable for Ukraine’s military operations, with its communications system helping to fill the void left by the destruction of fixed-line and mobile networks due to Russian bombing.

Starlink dishes, which allow users to access data and voice communication via satellites, have been critical for both military and civilian purposes. The Ukrainian armed forces, in particular, have relied heavily on Starlink to maintain battlefield command and control, especially amidst heavy signal jamming from Russian forces. Ukraine has also used the service to guide attack drones, although Musk's company SpaceX limited this usage two years ago.

Initially, SpaceX funded the provision of Starlink to Ukraine, but the U.S. government later took over funding. Recently, Poland has been footing the bill for Ukraine's Starlink subscriptions and has pledged to continue doing so.

In February, Reuters reported that the U.S. might leverage Starlink access in negotiations with Kyiv concerning its critical mineral resources.

By Aghakazim Guliyev