Earlier this year, SpaceX executives acknowledged their decision to block Ukrainian forces from utilizing Starlink communications systems for military purposes in the war against Russia. However, new information reported by CNN reveals that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk himself personally ordered his engineers to cut off power to a Starlink network near Crimea last year. The exact date of this incident is unclear. The purpose of this action was to prevent Ukraine from launching an attack on Russia’s warships. This revelation is part of the new biography “Elon Musk” by former Time editor Walter Isaacson. According to Isaacson, the Ukrainian submarine drones lost connectivity and washed ashore harmlessly as a result of Musk’s order.
Musk’s decision to shut off connectivity left Ukraine desperate and pleading for him to restore service. However, Musk refused due to his fear that it could potentially escalate into a nuclear war, comparing it to a “mini-Pearl Harbor.” Initially, Starlink internet service was provided to Ukraine to restore their communications system that had been damaged by Russia. However, Musk’s stance changed as Ukraine adopted a more offensive strategy. Musk questioned his involvement in the war, stating that Starlink was not intended for military purposes but for peaceful activities like streaming movies and accessing educational resources.
According to the Washington Post, Musk eventually restored service after receiving requests from Ukrainian and US officials. The Guardian acknowledges previous reports on Musk’s warnings regarding disrupting Starlink communications in Ukraine, but this is the first alleged incident where he intentionally cut off Ukrainian forces during a specific operation. The Guardian also cites a study by the European Commission that reveals Musk’s Twitter (now known as X) played a significant role in spreading Russian propaganda about the invasion of Ukraine.
This news is deeply concerning for Ukraine. Mykhailo Podolyak, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted his dissatisfaction, stating that by not allowing Ukrainian drones to attack the Russian military, Musk enabled the Russian fleet to launch missile strikes on Ukrainian cities. Podolyak attributes this to Musk’s lack of knowledge and overconfidence. The biography “Elon Musk” by Walter Isaacson will be released on Tuesday by Simon & Schuster. (Ronan Farrow has recently written about Musk’s influential role.)
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