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Elon Musk considered pulling the Starlink satellite internet from Ukraine due to fears of being viewed as a warmonger in Russia, according to a former Pentagon official. The concerns arose after Ukrainian forces experienced network outages near the front lines separating them from Russian occupiers. Colin Kahl, the former US undersecretary of defense for policy, was tasked with negotiating a deal to prevent Musk from shutting down the system entirely. Kahl expressed his view that Musk was becoming nervous about Starlink’s involvement being seen as support for the Ukrainian war effort and was searching for a way to address Russian concerns.

The outages predominantly affected the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions, which had undergone referendums organized by Kremlin proxies and were subsequently claimed as part of Russia. The Ukrainian military heavily relies on satellite terminals provided by Musk’s SpaceX, as well as the US government and private donors, for essential communication. Starlink’s satellite constellation facilitates coordinating drone and artillery strikes, livestreaming battlefield footage, and gathering intelligence.

Musk informed Pentagon officials that he had personal discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin during negotiations concerning Starlink. He expressed hesitation over the possibility of his satellite internet system being used for purposes other than peacekeeping. Recently, it was reported that Musk denied Starlink network access around occupied Crimea, thereby preventing a planned naval drone strike in the Black Sea.

Musk has long been concerned about his system being leveraged for offensive capabilities. The Ukrainian military considers continued access to the system vital for their success. Efforts have been made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s aides to address Musk’s concerns by emphasizing the system’s importance for defense, advancement, and survival. Additionally, the cost of providing the system has been a point of contention, estimated to be nearly 0 million for a 12-month period.

In June, the Pentagon announced a deal with SpaceX to maintain Starlink’s use in Ukraine, though specific terms were not disclosed. The agreement is seen as a step towards reducing Musk’s significant role in the battlefield. The Telegraph has reached out to representatives of Musk and SpaceX for comment.

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