Elon Musk's Starlink wins Pentagon contract to provide satellite services to Ukraine

SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications service, founded by billionaire Elon Musk, now has a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to provide satellite services to Ukraine, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Source. Reuters

"We continue to work with a number of global partners to ensure that Ukraine has the resilient satellite and communications capabilities they need. Satellite communications are a vital layer in Ukraine's overall communications network, and the department contracts with Starlink for this type of service," the Pentagon said in a statement.

The Pentagon is not disclosing the terms of the contract "for operational security reasons and due to the critical nature of these systems."

Starlink is used by Ukrainian troops for a variety of activities, including communications on the battlefield.

From the very beginning of the Russian invasion, SpaceX has been providing Starlink Internet services to Ukrainians and the Armed Forces through private donations and under a separate contract with the US Agency for Foreign Assistance.

Therefore, the contract with the Pentagon is a significant relief for SpaceX after Musk said in October that the company could not afford to indefinitely finance Starlink in Ukraine, which, according to him, costs $20 million a month to maintain.

Russia has attempted to cut off and block internet services in Ukraine, including attempts to block Starlink in the region, although SpaceX has countered these attacks by hardening the company's software.

Background. As a reminder, Ukrzaliznytsia and the Ministry of Digital Transformation plan to equip 16 Intercity+ trains with Starlink terminals by the end of 2023.