SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Figure: Retrieved from “TED” (file photo)
The Ukrainian front-line combat forces have found in the past few days that they are fully fighting to recover lost areas in southern Kherson, around the Zaporozhye region, eastern Kharkov, Donetsk and Luhansk. ) The phenomenon of “communication failure” generally occurs. Elon Musk had a spat with the Ukrainian authorities on the 3rd of this month because of his proposal to re-host a referendum under the supervision of the United Nations, abandon Crimea, and Ukraine’s neutrality. At this time, the failure in sensitive areas inevitably raises suspicions.
The Financial Times reported earlier that Ukrainian forces breaking through Russian defenses reported “a ‘catastrophic’ communications outage” from Starlink in recent weeks. The fault is mainly in the areas where Russian President Vladimir Putin held a “referendum” of questionable legitimacy to incorporate areas where the Ukrainian army is launching a fierce counter-offensive.
A Kyiv official said connection failures were widespread and prompted soldiers to panic and call a helpline. Both Ukrainian officials said the problem occurred as soldiers recaptured territory from Russia and crossed the front lines.
Roman Sinicyn, coordinator of the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation, the foundation that donated the Starlink system to the Ukrainian armed forces, explained that the problem occurred because SpaceX was Trying to prevent abuse by the Russian military.
“I know very well that Starlink representatives are doing this to prevent the Russian occupying forces from using their technology,” Sinichen said.
Musk himself, SpaceX, and Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov declined to comment on the Financial Times’ request for confirmation. Two Western officials, aware of the blackout, declined to comment further.
Musk’s offering of SpaceX services shortly after Russia’s invasion in February was one of the keys to Ukraine’s turnaround. However, his proposal of “Ukrainian-Russian Peace” on Twitter on the 3rd of this month caused anger from all walks of life in Ukraine. Its proposals include: (1) a referendum on the annexed areas of Uruguay under the supervision of the United Nations, and if the will of the people is unacceptable, Russia will leave; (2) Crimea officially becomes part of Russia, as it has been since 1783. The state until Khrushchev got it wrong; (3) ensured Crimea’s water supply; (4) Ukraine remained neutral.
In the face of backlash, including from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Musk insisted that he remained supportive of Ukraine. At this time, Starlink has been suspended in Ukraine to recover the lost ground, but it is unavoidable that people are suspicious.