Jun. 2nd, 2023

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The Pentagon said Thursday, June 1 it has agreed to purchase Starlink satellite internet terminals from Elon Musk’s SpaceX for use in Ukraine as Kyiv continues to defend itself against a full-scale Russian invasion.

The Pentagon declined to offer additional contract details, including the price, scope and timeline of the delivery.

The first Starlink terminals in Ukraine arrived four days after Russian troops poured over the nation’s border in what became the largest air, land and sea assault in Europe since World War II.

Ukraine digital minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had previously asked Musk for the capability on Twitter, posted that Starlink was “here” in Ukraine — with a photo showing more than two dozen boxes in the back of a truck.

Musk said in October that SpaceX wouldn’t be able to continue funding use of Starlink terminals in the country out of its own coffers “indefinitely,” after a report from CNN said the company had asked the Pentagon to cover the cost.

Western officials have previously hailed Musk’s decision to equip Ukraine with Starlink internet, citing the colossal and indiscriminate Russian shelling on civilian infrastructure that has left large swaths of the country without communications.

Musk reportedly told the Pentagon in October he would no longer finance the Starlink terminals in Ukraine as the country prepared to fight through the harsh winter months. However, the billionaire reversed course and did continue to fund the service.

Starlink is SpaceX’s global network of over 4,000 satellites that provides service to more than 50 countries. The company has grown Starlink to more than 1.5 million customers, and is weekly launching batches of additional satellites to expand the network’s capability. The U.S. has approved a plan to expand to as many as 7,500 satellites in orbit.

SpaceX has steadily expanded Starlink’s product offerings in recent years, selling services to residential, business, RV, maritime and aviation customers.

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