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| Musk says SpaceX will keep funding Ukraine Starlink internet | Musk says SpaceX will keep funding Ukraine Starlink internet |
| (4 months later) | |
| Elon Musk says his rocket firm SpaceX will continue funding its Starlink internet service in Ukraine, a day after he said it could no longer do so. | Elon Musk says his rocket firm SpaceX will continue funding its Starlink internet service in Ukraine, a day after he said it could no longer do so. |
| "The hell with it... Even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we'll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free," he tweeted. | "The hell with it... Even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we'll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free," he tweeted. |
| Starlink has been vital for Ukraine's military and people to stay online. | Starlink has been vital for Ukraine's military and people to stay online. |
| Ukraine says it helped to reboot key infrastructure after Russian attacks. | Ukraine says it helped to reboot key infrastructure after Russian attacks. |
| Energy installations were among facilities targeted by more than 100 Russian missiles this week. Starlink consists of thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit and ground terminals. | Energy installations were among facilities targeted by more than 100 Russian missiles this week. Starlink consists of thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit and ground terminals. |
| Last month Mr Musk, the Tesla boss and world's richest man, asked the Pentagon to fund the Starlink programme instead of him, according to US media. | Last month Mr Musk, the Tesla boss and world's richest man, asked the Pentagon to fund the Starlink programme instead of him, according to US media. |
| And on Friday he tweeted: "SpaceX is not asking to recoup past expenses, but also cannot fund the existing system indefinitely". That move drew strong criticism. | And on Friday he tweeted: "SpaceX is not asking to recoup past expenses, but also cannot fund the existing system indefinitely". That move drew strong criticism. |
| Mr Musk earlier provoked Kyiv's ire by suggesting Ukraine could cede territory to Russia. | Mr Musk earlier provoked Kyiv's ire by suggesting Ukraine could cede territory to Russia. |
| A Starlink terminal seen providing Kharkiv, Ukraine, with internet last month | A Starlink terminal seen providing Kharkiv, Ukraine, with internet last month |
| The Starlink programme costs $20m (£18m) per month to maintain, according to Mr Musk. He recently said SpaceX had spent $80m so far to keep Ukraine online. | The Starlink programme costs $20m (£18m) per month to maintain, according to Mr Musk. He recently said SpaceX had spent $80m so far to keep Ukraine online. |
| "In addition to terminals, we have to create, launch, maintain & replenish satellites & ground stations," he wrote on Twitter. | "In addition to terminals, we have to create, launch, maintain & replenish satellites & ground stations," he wrote on Twitter. |
| "We've also had to defend against cyberattacks & jamming, which are getting harder." | "We've also had to defend against cyberattacks & jamming, which are getting harder." |
| Ukraine's vice-Prime Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, downplayed tensions with Mr Musk, writing on Twitter that the billionaire "is among the world's top private donors supporting Ukraine". | Ukraine's vice-Prime Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, downplayed tensions with Mr Musk, writing on Twitter that the billionaire "is among the world's top private donors supporting Ukraine". |
| "Starlink is an essential element of our critical infrastructure," he wrote. | "Starlink is an essential element of our critical infrastructure," he wrote. |
| Earlier this month, Mr Musk tweeted out a proposal that Ukraine accept Russia's annexation of Crimea and allow referendums in Ukrainian regions invaded by Moscow. | Earlier this month, Mr Musk tweeted out a proposal that Ukraine accept Russia's annexation of Crimea and allow referendums in Ukrainian regions invaded by Moscow. |
| The Kremlin responded positively to the overture. | The Kremlin responded positively to the overture. |
| But Ukraine's outgoing ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, posted a tweet telling Mr Musk to go away, using a swear word. | But Ukraine's outgoing ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, posted a tweet telling Mr Musk to go away, using a swear word. |
| Responding on Friday to a post referring to the ambassador's remark, Mr Musk said: "We're just following his recommendation." | Responding on Friday to a post referring to the ambassador's remark, Mr Musk said: "We're just following his recommendation." |
| Moscow recently declared four more Ukrainian regions to be part of Russia, following so-called referendums denounced as fraudulent by Kyiv and its Western allies. Russia does not fully control any of the four regions. | Moscow recently declared four more Ukrainian regions to be part of Russia, following so-called referendums denounced as fraudulent by Kyiv and its Western allies. Russia does not fully control any of the four regions. |
| Mr Musk has also suggested the world should "formally" recognise Crimea - illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014 - as part of Russia. | Mr Musk has also suggested the world should "formally" recognise Crimea - illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014 - as part of Russia. |
| This week, Mr Musk denied that he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin before releasing his Twitter poll. | This week, Mr Musk denied that he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin before releasing his Twitter poll. |
| "I have spoken to Putin only once and that was about 18 months ago. The subject matter was space," he tweeted. | "I have spoken to Putin only once and that was about 18 months ago. The subject matter was space," he tweeted. |
| That statement came after a think tank researcher claimed Mr Musk had personally told him about the alleged conversation. | That statement came after a think tank researcher claimed Mr Musk had personally told him about the alleged conversation. |
| Related Topics | |
| Russia-Ukraine war | |
| Elon Musk | |
| Volodymyr Zelensky | |
| SpaceX | |
| Russia | |
| Vladimir Putin | |
| Ukraine |