Ukraine to Receive Additional Thousands of Starlink Antennas, According to Minister

Ukraine has come to an agreement with Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp. to obtain thousands of additional Starlink antennas in order to protect against Russian air assaults, as reported by a high-ranking government official.

Mykhailo Fedorov, the deputy prime minister and minister for digital transformation of Ukraine, recently announced in an interview in Kyiv that over 10,000 internet-providing devices will be sent to the country in the upcoming months.

Fedorov stated that SpaceX and Musk are quick to respond to issues and provide assistance. He also mentioned that he has had the opportunity to speak with Musk directly, who promised to keep supporting Ukraine. Fedorov revealed that he contacted Musk on the day of a major power outage, and Musk immediately took action and has already implemented some measures. He comprehends the circumstances.

No response was received from a spokesperson for SpaceX when a request for comment was made.

The Starlink network, created by SpaceX, is responsible for sending high-speed internet service to antennas on Earth through its satellites.

Starlink had a significant impact on the war in Ukraine, as Russia's military attempted to disrupt communication. Thanks to the Starlink antennas, Ukraine's troops were able to stay in contact with each other while they fought off Russia's initial attack. Elon Musk was initially praised for his contribution to the conflict.

In October, Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, sparked controversy when he tweeted that Ukraine should stay neutral and give up some of its land to Russia in order to reach a peace agreement. This was seen as a suggestion that Ukraine should not join military alliances such as NATO.

Since the start of the conflict in February, Ukraine has been provided with approximately 22,000 Starlink antennas, according to Fedorov.

Although no agreement has been finalized, the governments of multiple European Union nations are prepared to contribute financially, though the individual countries were not named. The speaker stated that all monetary matters have been settled, but Ukraine will need to secure additional funds in the upcoming months.

Fedorov asserted that satellite connections are the only option.

Ukraine is bracing for a potential disaster in which electricity, heat, water, and sewage could be shut off for an extended period of time if Russia continues to damage the nation's energy infrastructure, according to Ukrainian officials. It is estimated that approximately half of the infrastructure has already been destroyed. Additionally, mobile and internet connections could be significantly reduced in this situation.

Starlink antennas need an energy source to function, and this can be supplied by either a generator or a power bank.

The country has a plan of action that involves sending out thousands of "points of invincibility" to areas in Ukraine. These places will have continuous access to electricity, heating, and the internet, some of which will be supplied by Starlink antennas.

Fedorov declared that they are prepared to go without electricity for a month, as long as mobile network and text messages are still accessible. He also mentioned that they have a lot of Starlinks, and they have been given the go-ahead to receive another shipment that will be used to ensure a reliable connection in critical situations.

Ukraine's tech sector is a major contributor to the nation's electrical demand. It is the second largest industry in terms of generating export revenue. Despite the war, their sales had been increasing year-on-year until October, when the blackouts caused a sudden drop in revenue, according to Fedorov.

The companies have taken steps to ensure their contracts are fulfilled by acquiring Starlink antennas and generators, resulting in a more stabilized situation, according to the source.