Elon Musk is not a CEO like the others, as his critics and fans say.
The former judge him for capriciousness, reproach him for uncontrollability and fear his unpredictable side. The latter, on the other hand, praises the fact that he never ends up where you expect him to be.
More than a week into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the billionaire has just proven he’s definitely a CEO in his own right who doesn’t play on the same court as his peers.
If a large number of companies have announced the suspension or termination of their activities or their services in Russia, their leaders have not personally taken a stand in this war with Russia.
And most often they explain that they have no choice but to suspend their Russian activities due to sanctions from the US, the EU and their allies.
This caution by business leaders is no different from the position they tend to take on social issues: stay neutral.
You have to believe that Elon Musk is not from this school.
Musk urged Ukraine to “hold on tight”
Thus, the controversial businessman has just chosen his side between Russia and Ukraine and has informed his more than 76 million followers on Twitter about it.
“Hold tight, Ukraine,” wrote Tesla (TSLA) – Get Tesla Inc. The CEO’s report on Friday night, the message is surrounded by three Ukrainian flags on the left and three others on the right.
And just in case there were any doubts about his choice, Musk added a second message in which he sent his “sympathy” to “the great people of Russia who do not want this.”
On Saturday, Russia continued its sweeping offensive in Ukraine, reducing cities and towns to rubble, and a limited ceasefire in the besieged southern coastal city of Mariupol ended almost as soon as it began. The Ukrainian authorities said that Russia violated the ceasefire agreement.
Russia’s attack on civilian infrastructure has triggered a mass exodus of panicked people from cities, including the capital Kyiv, and has created increasingly difficult conditions for those who remain, according to The New York Times. About half a million people in Mariupol remain without heat, electricity and water for the third day on Saturday.
Musk decided to side with Ukraine days after the billionaire sent Starlink satellite Internet terminals developed by SpaceX, his other company, to Ukraine.
The billionaire was challenged on Twitter by Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Mikhail Fedorov.
However, Musk warned that these Starlink terminals are likely to be targeted by Russian hackers or intruders.
“Important warning: Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still operating in parts of Ukraine, so there is a high chance of becoming a victim. Please use with caution,” the billionaire warned.
Musk Tesla warns of cyberattacks
“Turn on Starlink only when necessary and place the antenna as far away from people as possible,” he added.
“Put light camouflage on the antenna to avoid visual detection.”
Starlink, Musk’s first consumer product from SpaceX, is high-speed internet powered by a network of thousands of small low-orbit satellites.
It allows residents of areas poorly served by fixed and mobile networks of telecom operators to access the Internet. Thousands of small satellites orbit in low orbit – mostly at an altitude of 342 miles or 550 kilometers above the Earth.
The system also needs ground stations around the world to communicate with satellites.
Musk said Friday night that he would not comply with requests from some governments, which he did not name, to block Russian media access to Starlink.
He explained that this decision was due to his “absolutist” respect for “freedom of speech”.
“Some governments (not Ukraine) have ordered Starlink to block Russian news sources. We will not do this unless we are at gunpoint,” he wrote. “Excuse me for being an absolutist of free speech.”
Musk also said that SpaceX will currently focus on countering attacks on Starlink terminals and deliberate interference to disrupt communications.
“SpaceX has refocused on cyber defense and signal interference.”
According to the country’s information security agency, ever since Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukraine has been regularly subjected to cyberattacks by Russian operators. This raised concerns for the country’s telecommunications networks.
Musk’s plan to turn SpaceX, his rocket and space technology company, into a firm capable of getting people to the Moon and Mars depends on Starlink’s profitability.
SpaceX has already launched over 2,000 Starlink satellites, with a total goal of around 12,000.