A recent exchange occurred between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Elon Musk, and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski regarding the Starlink satellite internet service, which is crucial for Ukraine’s military operations. Musk claimed that Starlink serves as the “backbone” of the Ukrainian army and warned that turning it off would lead to the collapse of Ukraine’s frontline. In response, Sikorski stated that Poland pays around $50 million a year for Starlink services and suggested that if SpaceX were to act unreliably, Ukraine would need to seek alternatives.
Rubio dismissed Sikorski’s concerns and accused him of fabricating threats, urging him to be grateful for Starlink’s role in Ukraine’s resistance against Russia. Musk insultingly referred to Sikorski as a “little man,” reinforcing that there are no viable replacements for Starlink. The exchange prompted Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to call for greater respect towards smaller countries from their allies.
Starlink is critical for the Ukrainian military, especially for coordinating drone operations and rapid responses in combat situations since standard communication methods can be unreliable or compromised. The service has been vital since the onset of the Russian invasion in February 2022, with tens of thousands of terminals deployed in Ukraine.
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