The politics of war can be complex, but the Ukraine-Russia conflict has been raging on for years. In this modern age of advanced technology, however, a ray of hope has emerged for Ukraine in the form of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite communications system.
Since March of this year, the Japanese Armed Forces have tested Starlink for use in their land, sea, and air forces, with plans in the works to officially adopt the system in 2024. This prompted former astronaut Scott Kelly to reach out directly to Musk to see if the system could be used in defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Musk’s response offered much needed relief to those involved, stressing that Starlink is “the backbone of Ukraine’s communications, especially on the front line, where almost all other internet connections have been destroyed.” He also expressed his commitment to doing “the right thing,” while affirming that, while the services can be used in a non-military capacity, the company has the right to turn them off.
The Ukrainian War has been deeply problematic and a possible source of disruption for the entire continent. The fact that Starlink is capable of being used as a military defense system is a potential game-changer for Ukraine, and could lead to eventual global reconciliation. Regardless of the outcome, it is always a blessing to see companies like Tesla striving to assist in situations such as this.