Elon Musk says SpaceX’s Starlink satellites are now active over Ukraine after a request from the embattled country’s leadership to replace internet services destroyed by the Russian attack.
Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion has left parts of the country without internet, while SpaceX has launched thousands of communications satellites to bring broadband to hard to reach areas of the world.
Tesla North reports Mykhailo Fedorov, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, asked SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for Starlink internet, a mere 10 hours ago.
Just this Saturday afternoon, Musk replied to Federov by saying, “Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.”
Starlink is a satellite constellation in low Earth orbit, allowing for internet to blanket anywhere on the planet. Users on the ground require satellite dishes that connect to Starlink satellites and ground stations for internet.
The situation in Ukraine means if Russian troops damage internet communications, government officials will be able to remain online, thanks to Starlink.
SpaceX recently also helped Tonga get connected to Starlink internet, after a volcano severed the island nation’s fibre optic cable, taking communications offline.
