Elon Musk breaks silence over supplying Starlink to Russia

At least 20,000 Starlink terminals have been donated by Elon Musk to Ukraine after Russia's military operation

X (formerly Twitter) CEO Elon Musk attends a symposium on "Antisemitism Online" in Krakow, on January 22, 2024. — AFP

Tech mogul and CEO of SpaceX Elon Musk revealed his plans to provide the Starlink satellite to Russia which is being used in the battlefield by Ukrainian forces.

Elon Musk wrote Sunday on social media platform X — formerly called Twitter: “A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia. To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia."

Musk — who is also the CEO of Tesla and X — was asked about if his satellite technology Starlink can be activated from Russia. The world’s richest person replied that "Starlink satellites will not close the link in Russia."

The remarks of the 52-year-old came regarding the claims made by Ukraine that Vladimir Putin’s forces are seeking the help of the Starlink satellites on the battlefield against Kyiv.

Russia commenced its special military operation against Ukraine in February 2022 and the bilateral standoff still rages with thousands dead and millions displaced.

According to Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense (GUR) Sunday, its forces intercepted a conversation between Russian soldiers.

In a purported 15-second recording, a person can be heard saying in Russian “Starlink is working, we have internet [access].”

Andrey Yusov, GUR spokesman claimed that Russian troops are systematically using Starlink terminals.

This image released on January 31, 2024, shows a Starlink satellite developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX company on the roof of a house. — X/@Starlink

A report from Defense One claimed citing sources in Ukraine this week that Kiev’s forces first detected the use of Starlink by Russia “several months ago.”

Russia did not release any statement regarding the claims made by Ukraine. Separately, Elon Musk’s company SpaceX in a statement Thursday said that the company “does not do business of any kind with the Russian government or its military” and has “never sold or marketed Starlink in Russia, nor has it shipped equipment to locations in Russia.”

At least 20,000 Starlink terminals have been donated by the CEO to Ukraine after Russia’s military operation.