Elon Musk Intervenes in Ukraine-Russian Conflict with Starlink
Starlink’s Unexpected Role
In a surprise twist, American billionaire Elon Musk allegedly intervened in the Ukraine-Russian conflict last year by manipulating Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet provider. The unexpected intervention is documented in an upcoming biography of Musk by Walter Isaacson.
Musk reportedly directed SpaceX engineers to disable the Starlink communication network near the occupied Crimean coasts to thwart a Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian naval fleet. By cutting off communications, explosive-laden Ukrainian underwater drones lost connectivity and safely ran aground. Musk’s decision was driven by fears of the incident escalating into a scenario akin to a mini “Pearl Harbor”, possibly prompting Russia to retaliate with nuclear weapons.
While Starlink’s inception was to provide global internet for leisurely activities like watching Netflix or school connectivity, its involvement in military communications raised eyebrows. Musk expressed regret over Starlink’s deployment in offensive operations against Russia by Ukraine. “How did I get into this war?” Musk questioned this, reaffirming that Starlink was meant for peaceful purposes and not drone strikes.
