Elon Musk Activates Starlink in Ukraine Amid Russian Invasion

Elon Musk and SpaceX are lending support to Ukraine amid Russia’s assault on the embattled country.

The announcement comes after Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov asked the SpaceX billionaire to help supply satellite-based communications to the country, as their internet access has been disrupted by the Russian invasion.

“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,” Fedorov wrote on Twitter.

Hours later, Musk announced that the space company’s Starlink satellite internet service is available in Ukraine, with more terminals on the way. 

“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine,” he wrote. “More terminals en route.”

Earlier this week, Russia launched what was initially described by President Vladimir Putin as a “special military operation” in Ukraine. Monitoring group Netblocks reported Thursday that Ukraine had seen “significant disruptions” in its internet services in due to Russian military operations.

“Significant internet disruption registered in Ukraine-controlled city of Kharkiv shortly after huge explosions heard,” they wrote on Twitter. “Users report loss of fixed-line service on provider Triolan while cellphones continue to work.”