According to Eron Musk , his company SpaceX "cannot" indefinitely fund its operation of its satellite Internet-- Starlink service in Ukraine, which is crucial to the war, according to German media.
On the contrary, Musk believes that the US Pentagon should bear bills in the range of two to three-digit millions (between US$10 million and US$990 million). SpaceX apparently warned that it will no longer be able to bear the cost of running its satellite internet services in Ukraine.
"We cannot continue to donate more receiving equipment to Ukraine or provide funding for existing terminals indefinitely," CNN revealed on Thursday night local time, SpaceX said in a letter to the U.S. Department of Defense in September.
The company requires Pentagon to bear the costs of the Ukrainian government and its military to use Starlink. A few days after the war began in late February, tech billionaire Musk launched his Starlink service in Ukraine, and then delivered the necessary receiving system to the supporting package.
This system establishes fast internet connection through its own satellite. In areas in Ukraine where mobile communications and the Internet are no longer available due to infrastructure damage, it serves civilians and Ukrainian military as a primary means of communication. In 2022 alone, it costs $120 million. According to CNN, SpaceX's letter also stated that the cost of the action will exceed $120 million (approximately €122.6 million) by the end of this year. That number will be close to $400 million over the next twelve months.
CNN wrote in July that in July, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valeryi Zalushnyi asked for an increase of nearly 8,000 Starlink terminals. According to the British Financial Times , Ukrainian troops recently reported a failure of Starlink equipment on the front line. The system plays a central role in the Ukrainian military counterattack that lasted for weeks. In response, Musk wrote on Twitter: "What happened on the battlefield is confidential."
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mifedorov said this week that Starlink services have helped respond to energy and communication infrastructure in key areas.
htmlIn early October, Musk proposed a "arms plan". His proposal system was not allowed to be written. Friends, please search for it yourself, 555. (Ma proposed that Ukraine beg to Russia, and the United Nations will preside over a referendum again to determine the ownership of the remaining disputed areas, and suggested that Ukraine remain neutral)
This statement immediately caused a sensation and also made Ukrainians angry. The head of Ukraine also criticized this.
The famous outgoing Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Melnik, also responded to this on Twitter , "My diplomatic response to you is to go out of fuck off."
Musk also responded to Melnik's suggestions in Twitter mentioning the suspension of Starlink services, "We are just following his advice."
