Abdujalil Abdurasulov
BBC News
Reuters
Starlink provides high-speed internet to remote locations such as Warzone
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Elon Musk have clashed with Polish Foreign Minister over the use of Ukrainian high-tech billionaire Starlink satellite internet system.
The mask is X, saying that Ukraine’s “all forefront” would collapse if the system was turned off. Radoslaw Sikorski responded, saying his country paid for its use in Ukraine and that the threat of closing it would search for another network.
Rubio dismisses Sikorsky’s claim and tells him to thank him, but Musk calls him a “little man.”
This exchange appeared to lead to Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tass calling on his country’s allies to respect their weaker partners rather than arrogant.
Starlink’s system is part of SpaceX’s venture, providing high-speed internet in remote and underserved areas. It is widely used by the Ukrainian military.
Sunday’s exchange began when Musk posted that Starlink was the “backbone of the Ukrainian army” and “If I turn it off, their entire frontline will collapse.”
Sikorsky then responded, saying that Poland was paying for the service.
“Ukrainian Starlink is paid by Poland’s Ministry of Digitalization at a cost of around $50 million a year,” writes Sikorski. “If SpaceX proves to be an unreliable provider, the ethics that threaten the victims of the attack will force you to look for other suppliers.”
Getty Images
Radoslaw Sikorski responded to Elonmusk’s post saying Starlink is the “backbone” of the Ukrainian military
In response, Rubio stated that Sikorsky “is just making things up… no one is threatening to cut off Ukraine from Starlink.”
“And say thank you because without Starlink, Ukraine would have lost this war long ago, and the Russians would now hold the border with Poland,” he added.
Musk later called him “a little man” in Sikorsky’s post.
“Quiet, little guy. You pay a small portion of the cost, and there’s no substitute for Starlink,” he wrote.
On Monday morning, the Polish Prime Minister Task wrote to X without specifying who or what he was referring to:
“Even for small and weak people. Not arrogant. Dear friends, think about it.”
The Starlink terminal is key to Ukrainian army operations and has been in use since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
There are tens of thousands of terminals in the country, including up to 500 purchases purchased by the US Department of Defense in June 2023.
How does the Ukrainian Army use Starlink?
Starlink is one of the most reliable means of communication for the Ukrainian military.
This is used for reconnaissance drones that strumble real-time battlefield data that allows for a rapid response to attacks.
This compensates for the disadvantages of Ukrainian talent, as the army does not need to maintain a large number of soldiers along the entire line of defense.
Drone footage also helps guide the fire and identify the target of the Kamikaze drone.
Requesting evacuation and providing the exact location of the target is also much slower and more complicated without a Starlink. This is because normal radio stations are out of range and can get clogged, stuffed, or compromised.
Additional Reports by Abdujalil Abdurasulov
