Ukraine on Monday received Starlink satellite internet terminals from Elon Musk‘s SpaceX as it continues to face Russian attacks. 

Mykhailo Fedorov, deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, shared the news on Twitter, “Starlink – here. Thanks, @elonmusk,” along with a picture of a truck carrying the terminals. 

Musk, CEO of Tesla, replied to the tweet with “You’re most welcome.”

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Starlink is a space-based system that SpaceX has been building for years to bring internet access to underserved areas of the world. Musk’s venture could help Ukraine stay connected despite troop advancement in the country.

The development came soon after Ukraine had requested Musk to help with the satellites as the nation battles a devastating invasion by neighbouring Russia. Fedorov had tweeted, “@elonmusk, while you try to colonize Mars — Russia tries 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”.

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

Responding to the Ukrainian minister’s plea the next day, Musk had said that his Starlink satellite service was up and running in Ukraine. “Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route,” he tweeted in a reply. 

Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to take thousands of Starlink satellites into orbit, creating an internet-service constellation that would work as a low-cost alternative to remote land-based systems that are vulnerable to interruption.

The billionaire previously donated 50 satellite terminals to restore the internet in Tonga, whose telecommunications network was severely disrupted by a tsunami this year.

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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. 

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.