In a tweet posted on Saturday, billionaire Elon Musk hinted that his rocket business SpaceX would continue to support Ukraine’s satellite-based Starlink internet service. However, the irascible Tesla CEO’s tone and words also gave rise to the suspicion that he was merely being ironic.
Elon Musk frequently uses humour and insults in his tweets, and he also occasionally veers off course. For example, a recent string of tweets implied that one of his businesses had started selling its own line of fragrances. If SpaceX has formed future plans for operation in Ukraine, it is unclear at this time.
Senior American officials acknowledged on Friday that Elon Musk had formally requested that the Defense Department assume responsibility for supporting the service that Starlink offers in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the country’s resistance against Russia’s invasion in February, Starlink, which offers broadband internet connectivity utilising more than 2,200 low-orbiting satellites, has supplied vital battlefield communications for Ukrainian military troops.
The previously unreported records offer an unusual breakdown of SpaceX’s own internal Starlink data, including the expenses and expenditures related to the many terminals in Ukraine. They also shed new light on covert discussions that gave Ukraine communications equipment and services worth millions of dollars at little expense to Kiev.
According to a statement from Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh on Friday, the Pentagon acknowledged receiving contact from SpaceX regarding the sponsorship of the Starlink satellite communications product in Ukraine.
The Pentagon had spoken with SpaceX earlier in the day, according to Singh, who did not specify if the subject was money for the Starlink satellite communication system.
