Elon Musk's Starlink service, which provides satellite internet, has become a significant lifeline for Ukraine since the start of the conflict in February 2022. Starlink has been used by civilians, the government, and the military. Its role has been essential for humanitarian efforts and military operations alike. Initially funded by SpaceX, the service is now supported by the US Department of Defense. Poland has been a considerable contributor, providing the largest number of Starlink terminals to Ukraine.
Musk has made strong statements about the importance of Starlink for Ukraine. He claimed that without the service, Ukraine's frontline could collapse. Musk expressed frustration over the ongoing conflict and called Starlink the "backbone of the Ukrainian army." He vowed never to turn off the terminals in Ukraine and even challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to a duel over the conflict.
However, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski raised concerns about the reliability of Starlink. He highlighted that Poland spends $50 million annually for the service and warned about the need to find alternative providers. Sikorski questioned the ethics of using Starlink as a tool in wartime and emphasized Poland's commitment to supporting Ukraine's communication needs.
In a response to Sikorski, Musk told him to "Be quiet, small man." He argued that Poland pays only a small part of Starlink's overall cost and claimed that there was no substitute for the service. Musk accused Sikorski of undermining Ukraine's defense and reaffirmed his commitment to keeping Starlink active in the nation. Starlink's encrypted data and network fragmentation made it resilient against jamming, which Musk emphasizes as a critical feature for Ukraine's military operations. Additionally, Musk asserted that there are no substitutes for Starlink, highlighting its unique role in the ongoing conflict.
U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, defended Musk's position. Rubio criticized Sikorski for allegedly misrepresenting facts and stressed the importance of Starlink for Ukraine's war effort. He noted the potential consequences if the service were to end. Starlink has enabled encrypted communications and supported military operations, making it a crucial resource in the ongoing conflict.
