Ukraine War: Elon Musk's SpaceX company bans Kyiv from using Starlink tech for drone control

Ukraine War: Elon Musk's SpaceX company bans Kyiv from using Starlink tech for drone control

SpaceX has blocked Ukraine's ability to use its satellite internet service for military purposes - after reports that Kyiv used it to control drones.
At the beginning of the war, Ukraine received thousands of SpaceX Starlink dishes - which connect to satellites and help people to connect to the Internet. But he accused him of using the technology to target Russian positions, violating rules set by SpaceX.
A Ukrainian government official said that companies have to choose the "side" they are on. They can join Ukraine with the "right of independence", or choose Russia with the "right" to kill and seize territory", presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted.
At an event in Washington DC on Wednesday, SpaceX CEO Gwynne Shotwell explained that Starlink technology is "not always going to be used in weapons." He cited allegations that Ukraine was using Starlink to control drones and pointed out that the equipment was provided for humanitarian purposes.
Drones played an important role in the war, as Kyiv used them to search for Russian troops, drop bombs and counter Moscow's drone attacks. Russia has been accused of trying to infringe on the Starlink brand by SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
Ms Shotwell confirmed it was acceptable for Ukraine's military to deploy Starlink technology "for communications", but said the intention was not to "use it for offensive purposes". He said the company had taken steps to "restrict" the Ukrainian military's ability to use Starlink offensively - without giving further details.
The company's CEO said he could not say whether those efforts were the cause of Starlink's shutdown late last year. • What is Starlink and how does it work?
After attacking its neighbors in February last year, Russia quickly sought to shut down internet services in the region and block social media. The first Starlink dish - or terminal - was soon transferred to Ukraine, with the aim of ensuring that people stay connected.
They work by connecting to satellites in low Earth orbit. In addition to the port sent directly to the company itself, others have received funding from foreign governments.
In October, Mr. Musk indicated that he could not continue to fund Starlink in Ukraine, before quickly reversing his position. In a tweet last week, the billionaire reiterated this statement and admitted that there are problems at work.
"SpaceX Starlink has become the backbone of Ukraine's connection to the future. It collapses if you spread," he wrote.
“However, we do not allow Starlink to be used for long-range drone strikes. If you don't separate."

The Minister of Defense in Ukraine said that Russia is preparing a major new attack and warned that it could begin as early as February 24.
Oleksii Reznikov said Moscow had mobilized thousands of troops and could "try something" to commemorate the first invasion last year. The attack will also mark the Russian defender of Father's Day on February 23, which celebrates the military.
Meanwhile, three people died in the attack on the city of Kramatorsk. Another eight people were wounded in the city of Donetsk when Russian artillery hit a residential building, the regional governor said.
The number is expected to rise as rescuers search the wreckage. "The only way to stop Russian terrorism is to defeat it," Zelensky wrote in a social media post about the attack. "From the tank. A soldier. A long weapon."
Ukraine recently renewed its call for fighter jets to defend against air strikes after Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom agreed to send them tanks.
Ukraine War: Elon Musk's SpaceX company bans Kyiv from using Starlink tech for drone control