According to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, the company’s Starlink internet service is now functioning in Ukraine, with more terminals on the way.
The country has seen internet disruptions as the Russian military advance and missiles threaten significant infrastructure. Disturbances have been observed across much of Ukraine, including the capital city of Kyiv, according to the monitoring group NetBlocks.
On Saturday, a Ukrainian government official asked Musk to provide the country with more Starlink stations.
“While you try to colonize Mars — Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand,” Mykhailo Fedorov, the vice prime minister of Ukraine and minister of digital transformation, said.
Musk responded on Twitter Saturday, stating, “Starlink service is now active in Ukraine.” More terminals are en route.”
Starlink’s ultimate objective is to bring faster internet to the entire globe by improving internet access in locations where broadband providers are unavailable.
It allows customers to access the internet using a satellite dish mounted on or near their property. The internet is transmitted to the dish through a network of SpaceX-orbited Starlink satellites and base stations.