Posted on 02/09/2023 1:05:13 PM PST by NautiNurse
SpaceX says satellite communications service ‘never, never meant to be weaponised’
A senior Ukrainian presidential aide has reacted with anger after Elon Musk’s SpaceX said it had taken steps to prevent its Starlink satellite communications service from controlling drones, which are critical to Kyiv’s forces in fighting off the Russian invasion.
Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s chief operating officer, said at a conference in the US that the surprise decision had been taken because it had never been the company’s intention to allow Starlink to be used “for offensive purposes”.
That prompted an immediate complaint on Thursday morning from Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukraine’s president, Volodymr Zelenskiy, who argued that Musk’s business had failed to recognise Ukraine’s right to self-defence.
[Snip]
>Shortly after the start of the war, Musk, SpaceX’s founder, agreed to provide Starlink for nothing to Ukraine, in response to a plea made on Twitter by Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation. “Starlink service is now active in Ukraine,” Musk said in reply.
Ukrainian forces use Starlink to help control their large network of surveillance drones, critical to monitor Russian troop concentrations and military movements, at a time when Moscow’s forces are on the attack across large parts of the eastern front.
[Snip]
“F**k off is my very diplomatic reply to you,” replied Andrij Melnyk, Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, prompting Musk to threaten to stop providing Starlink to Ukraine. Musk had said that providing Starlink was costly to SpaceX, although the US government pays at least some of the costs.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
LOL! Shove it, sicko Ukrainian shill, and defend yourself with your own resources, for free.
These Ukrainian leaders never cease to amaze me with their entitlements at all costs.
LOL - stay classy, Andrij.
Ukraine has a right to self-defense.
What part of “self” do they not understand?
FR Ukie PropAgenda touts are saddened.
Silly me, I thought SpaceX is a private company that’s not involved in wars…
Musk has every right to not want his company involved in war.
The tentacles are almost impossible to remove once the squeeze is applied.
These Ukrainian “leaders” are something else.
That whole “self” thing…
Perhaps they will be a bit more appreciative.
Didn’t Ukraine issue a death sentence for him for some reason some time ago.
Check out the last paragraph above. Ukraine’s charming ambassador to Germany prompted Musk to threaten pulling the plug on Starlink in Ukraine.
Yeah, I have about had it up to my here (my kneecaps) with Zelensky
I vaguely recall Russia issued some death threats toward Musk and Starlink.
More proof that the government of Ukraine is straight up evil.
Never heard that....not even an inkling
If the Ukes don’t like it, they should just make their own satellite system.
Musk is turning out to be one ballsy guy.
It’s the Uke gov. that keep official kill lists that feature Americans like Tucker, Scott Ritter, etc, not the russkies.
The Ukes did put Musk on their “kill on sight” list in Oct. 2022 but quickly removed him after the twatter crowd noticed.
So great allies, huh.
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