Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ‘s cabinet, said Thursday that SpaceX had to choose between Ukraine and Russia. The words came after Elon Musk’s company said it was restricting Kiev’s use of Starlink internet devices to control drones.
Gwynn Shotwell, president and CEO of SpaceX, said Wednesday that the Starlink service, which provided Ukraine with broadband to defend against Russian troops, “was never intended to be used as a armed”.
“The Ukrainian resistance is a year old, and the companies have to make a decision: either they are on the side of Ukraine and the right to freedom, and are not looking for ways to harm. Either they side with Russia and its ‘right’ to kill and seize territory,” Podolyak wrote on Twitter. “SpaceX (Starlink) and Ms. Shotwell must choose a specific option.”
The Ukrainian military uses thousands of Starlink devices to communicate in the field. Some of these devices were provided free of charge by SpaceX.
Recall that Podolyak repeatedly criticized Musk after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine .
