Ukraine wants help from Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites as Russia attacks

Ukraine’s vice prime minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has asked SpaceX and Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, to help with Starlink satellites as the nation faces an attack from Russia. 

Fedorov tweeted and shared the message on Telegram, saying, “@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”. 

As Russia continues its onslaught on Ukraine, major parts of the country have faced internet outages as well as disruptions. 

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Musk’s Starlink satellites have been launched into the earth’s orbit, through SpaceX. The aim is to increase internet service at all points of the earth. Large amounts of information can travel at high speeds through these satellites, which reduces the need for fibre-optic cables. Thus, Musk’s venture could help Ukraine stay connected despite troop advancement in the country. 

Fedorov, in an earlier post, had acknowledged the supremacy of technology in the present day, saying, “In 2022 modern technologies are one of the best response to tanks, rockets and missiles. I’ve addressed to the biggest tech giants to support the sanctions for Russian Federation. We asked them to help us stop this outrageous aggression on our people!”, the New York Post reported. 

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He also called on tech giants Google, Netflix, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to block Russian accounts and content, in light of the country’s assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty. The New York Post reported Fedorov saying, “We’ve also asked @Netflix for the support. We appealed to them to block the Russian Federation’s access to Netflix and shut off Russian content. We believe you do care. Let’s stop this disgraceful bloody war!”

Musk has been known to offer help, as he recently did to the disaster struck Tonga which faced an internet outage. The Russian attack of Ukraine began with President Vladimir Putin recognizing Ukraine’s breakaway regions as independent, and sending in the army as peacekeeping troops, with the intent to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine.