A Falcon 9 rocket launches a Starlink mission from Florida on Feb. 27, 2023.
SpaceX
Ukraine’s principal military intelligence company accused Russian forces of working with Starlink terminals made by Elon Musk’s SpaceX in occupied locations.
Starlink has been adamant that its satellite networks have hardly ever operated or been marketed in Russia, soon after its terminals had been sent to Ukraine next the February 2022 invasion, in get to aid battlefield communications for Ukrainian forces.
“A range of untrue news reviews declare that SpaceX is advertising Starlink terminals to Russia. This is categorically untrue,” Musk posted Sunday on the X social media platform, which he also owns.
“To the very best of our information, no Starlinks have been sold right or indirectly to Russia.”
Kyiv’s Most important Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) claimed Sunday that there was mounting evidence of the gear being utilized by Russian forces in the partly-occupied jap Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
“Sure, there have been recorded cases of use of these gadgets by the Russian occupiers. This is commencing to take on a systemic character,” GUR spokesman Andriy Yusov informed RBC-Ukraine.
In a statement on its site, the GUR said radio interceptions of discussions concerning Russian forces showed that Starlink terminals experienced been mounted in units of Russia’s 83rd Assault Brigade functioning in Donetsk near the towns of Klischiivka and Andriivka.
The Russian defense ministry did not instantly reply when approached by CNBC for comment. The Kremlin on Monday stated Starlink was neither certified for use in Russia, nor formally supplied to its forces, and hence could not have been utilized, according to Reuters.
In a write-up on X on Feb. 8, Starlink reported that “SpaceX does not do business enterprise of any type with the Russian Govt or its armed service.”
“Starlink is not active in Russia, this means services will not get the job done in that country. SpaceX has never sold or marketed Starlink in Russia, nor has it transported devices to areas in Russia. If Russian merchants are saying to offer Starlink for service in that country, they are scamming their consumers.”