Ukraine has reached an agreement with space company SpaceX, owned by businessman Elon Musk, to receive more than 10,000 Starlink antennas to avoid Russian air strikes. The devices, which offer internet services from satellites, are due to be shipped to Ukraine in the coming months, Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov told Bloomberg, according to the Ukrinform news agency.
“SpaceX and Musk are quick to respond to issues and help us out. (…) Musk assured us that he will continue to support Ukraine. When we had a major power outage I texted him that day and he responded immediately and already made some arrangements. He understands the situation,” said Fedorov.
According to him, since the beginning of the war, in February, Ukraine has received about 22 thousand Starlink antennas. There is no contract yet, but the governments of several EU countries are willing to contribute to the payment, he said, without naming those countries.
The country’s contingency plan calls for creating thousands of “points of invincibility”, places where Ukrainians will have uninterrupted access to electricity, heat and internet, in part via Starlink antennas.