The director of Russia’s space agency has threatened Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, over his intentions to supply Ukraine with internet connectivity. Starlink, a network of more than 2,000 low-Earth orbiting satellites, has been used by Musk’s company to broadcast internet connections throughout the world.
The service was launched with the express purpose of keeping Ukraine online during the ongoing Russian invasion and has a significant presence there. Back in April, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated that they have fought off Russian hacking and jamming attempts by focusing on countermeasures at the expense of other missions.
Russian Space Agency Head Announcements
On Sunday night, Musk tweeted information sent to the Russian media by Dmitry Rogozin, the leader of the Russian space agency Roscosmos. It was Rogozin who made the announcement on Telegram.
.@Rogozin sent this to Russian media pic.twitter.com/eMI08NnSby
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2022
Musk has been accused of handing over Starlink equipment to the Ukrainian military units and the ‘Nazi Azov Battalion,’ as Rogozin said. Musk provided a translation of his previous tweet from the Russian to English:
The word “Nazi” doesn’t mean what he seems to think it does pic.twitter.com/pk9SQhBOsG
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2022
‘From the testimony of the captured chief of staff of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Dmitry Kormyankov, it follows that the ground-based subscriber equipment of the Starlink satellite company Elon Musk was delivered to the militants of the Nazi Azov Battalion and the Marines of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to Mariupol by military helicopters,’ Rogozin wrote on Telegram.
Rogozin continues his talk and says: ‘Elon Musk is thus involved with supplying the fascist forces in Ukraine with military communications.’ ‘And for this, you will have to answer in an adult way, Elon, no matter how much you’ll play the fool.’
Starlink Internet was the Beginning
Ukrainian officials claim that Starlink gives the Ukrainian military advantage in the drone war as the nation strikes back using technology to hunt out invading Russians. This was the main reason why Russians were angry and criticized Musk.
‘The word ‘Nazi’ doesn’t mean what he seems to think it does,’ Musk tweeted. He then added: ‘If I die under mysterious circumstances, it’s been nice knowin’ ya.’
If I die under mysterious circumstances, it’s been nice knowin ya
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2022
People all across the world — including his mother, Maye Musk — got in touch with Musk in response to the tweet. ‘That’s not funny,’ his mother tweeted while quoting his tweet.
Sorry! I will do my best to stay alive.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2022
‘Sorry! I will do my best to stay alive,’ Musk replied.
According to Business Insider, Rogozin has been battling with the billionaire since the invasion began, calling him “little devil” and mocking Tesla’s Cybertruck. On Twitter, he attacked the concept that Musk would bring free speech to the platform, labeling him “moneybags” and criticizing the idea that he would acquire the company.
Starlink Mission and Target
More than 2,000 of SpaceX’s ‘Starlink’ internet satellites have been put into orbit, and the company plans to have 12,000 in orbit by 2026. These satellites are part of a network aimed to deliver high-speed internet at a reasonable cost from low Earth orbit.
Satellite internet has been available for a long time, but it has been impacted by excessive latency and unstable connectivity. In a way, Starlink is unique. SpaceX has stated that its ultimate objective is to bring high-speed, cable-like internet to every corner of the globe.
Musk has previously stated that the initiative might provide internet connectivity to three billion people who do not currently have it. It might even be used to build a city on Mars in the future.
Starlink in Ukraine
As internet and power shortages continue to affect Ukraine, drones are able to use Starlink to stay connected and deliver intelligence. Anti-tank bombs may be dropped by the drones with the use of new technologies.
Ukrainian soldiers have an advantage in the drone war thanks to the Starlink satellite system as the country strikes back with technology to hunt out invading Russians.
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, thanked Elon Musk for his support on Twitter and offered him to visit his nation when the conflict was finished.
Zelensky has communicated to @elonmusk Next week, #Ukraine will get the next party of #Starlink systems for destroyed cities. In addition, they have talked about available cosmic projects and the visit to Ukraine. But about this, it's after the end of the #war#Zelensky pic.twitter.com/MTKYGkyfKH
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) March 6, 2022
