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Elon Musk’s SpaceX played a deliberate role in the operation of the Starlink satellite Internet during the Ukrainian conflict in 2012, according to The New Yorker. The situation arose after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where cyberattacks were being launched on Ukrainian digital infrastructure. In an effort to find a solution, Starlink was chosen due to its tripod-mounted dishes connected to a network of satellites. These devices had a limited range, but this became an advantage as it made it difficult for Russia to completely block Ukrainian communications.

Thousands of pieces of Starlink equipment were then transferred to Ukraine, providing vital communication capabilities on the battlefield. Initially, Elon Musk showed unwavering support for Ukraine’s cause. However, SpaceX later expressed concerns about the cost and the fact that their technology was being used in warfare. Musk even expressed support for Vladimir Putin and proposed a peace plan, which involved redrawing Ukraine’s borders and giving Russia control of Crimea.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian troops advancing in the south experienced a sudden loss of communication when they crossed a certain border. This outage affected units in several cities. U.S. and Ukrainian officials believed that SpaceX had geofenced certain areas, limiting access to communications. To resolve the situation, meetings were held and the Pentagon needed to negotiate a contractual agreement with SpaceX to ensure stable services across Ukraine.

Former US Deputy Secretary of Defense Colin Kahl played a crucial role in convincing Elon Musk not to turn off Starlink in Ukraine. Musk was initially hesitant due to concerns that Starlink’s involvement was seen as aiding the Ukrainian war effort. However, Musk agreed to give the Pentagon more time and dropped his threats to stop the service.

In June of the following year, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that an agreement had been reached with SpaceX regarding the operation of Starlink in Ukraine. While SpaceX’s role in the conflict caused some challenges, securing the service was important to maintain communication capabilities for ongoing operations in Ukraine.

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