SpaceX curbed Ukraine’s use of Starlink terminals

SpaceX has taken steps to prevent Ukraine’s military from using the company’s Starlink satellite internet service to control drones in the region in the war with Russia.

SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell stated this during a conference in Washington, D.C.

SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, which has provided Ukraine’s military with broadband communications in its defense against Russia’s military, was “never meant to be weaponized,” said Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and chief operating officer.

According to Shotwell, the use of Starlink with drones is beyond the scope of the agreement that SpaceX has with the government of Ukraine.

“We know that the military uses terminals to communicate, and that’s fine,” she said. “But it was never meant to be weaponized.”

When later speaking with the reporters, Shotwell referred to reports that the Ukrainian military used the Starlink service to control drones.

“There are things that we can do to limit their ability to do that, and have done,” she said, referring to Starlink’s use with drones.

The President of SpaceX declined to comment on what measures SpaceX took.

Currently, Ukraine is effectively using unmanned aircraft to detect enemy positions, direct fire at long distances, and drop bombs.

Recently, a Ukrainian combat drone was shot down. Its platform had an integrated Starlink terminal.

In addition to unmanned aerial vehicles, maritime strike drones also underwent significant development. In October of last year, these drones made their debut attacking the ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

The drones used for the attack had a flat, square-shaped object on top of the boat, closer to its stern. It visually resembled a Starlink terminal antenna.