SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.
Musk activated Starlink, satellite broadband service, in Ukraine in late February after internet services were disrupted because of Russia’s invasion. SpaceX has since given it thousands of terminals.
Starlink has been a key communications tool for Ukrainian forces in their fight against Russian forces.
On Friday, an advisor to the Ukrainian president said Kyiv will find a solution to keep the Starlink internet service working in Ukraine. And Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s vice prime minister, backed him up on Telegram.
“Starlink terminals were working, are working and will work. Do not worry,” he wrote, adding a smiley face emoji at the end.
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Ukraine said this week Starlink services helped restore energy and communications infrastructure in critical areas after more than 100 Russian cruise missile attacks
Musk drew widespread criticism from Ukrainians over his peace plan in which he proposed that Ukraine permanently cede the Crimea region to Russia, that new referendums be held under UN auspices to determine the fate of Russian-controlled territory, and that Ukraine agree to neutrality.
Ukraine says it will never agree to cede land taken by force, and lawful referendums cannot be held in occupied territory where many people have been killed or driven out.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was among those who criticised Musk’s proposal.
Ukraine’s outgoing ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, also condemned the plan in tweet that told Musk in profane terms to go away.
Musk, responding to a post referring to the fate of the Starlink service and the ambassador’s remark, said:
“We’re just following his recommendation.”
Republican US Representative Adam Kingzinger cited Musk’s comments on Twitter, writing “if there was ever proof that @elonmusk is playing games this is it. I’m not sure someone like this can be trusted to any longer do business with our government.”
While extremely costly to deploy, satellite technology like Starlink can provide internet for people who live in rural or hard-to-serve areas where fibre optic cables and cell towers do not reach. The technology can also be a critical backstop when natural disasters disrupt communication.
Reuters
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