Saved By Starlink: Elon Musk Comes Through For Ukraine Again
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Elon Musk has rushed to Ukraine's SOS by deploying even more Starlink terminals to the embattled nation after Russia's invasion knocked out large parts of the country's internet.
Ukraine suffered both power and internet outages following the initial military invasion, which hit the southern and eastern parts of the country the hardest, according to Reuters.
The areas with the least connectivity were also where fighting had been the heaviest.
The SpaceX billionaire supplied the additional terminals, which arrived in only two days, after Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov pleaded with the tech genius on Twitter.
Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2022
Fedorov wrote: "@elonmusk, while you try and 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."
Only hours after Fedorov's initial call to arms, Musk replied that the 'service is now active in Ukraine', earning him substantial praise online for this speedy response.
Real life superhero!
- ElenaRGV (@RgvElena) February 26, 2022
Absolute legend. When you have the power to make a difference, you step up. Can't help but respect this pic.twitter.com/5dImyNvZQ7
- VanWhalen.eth:tm: (@Van_Whalen) February 26, 2022
Woah! That was amazingly fast. Thank you for being on the side of right at this moment!
- Wandrinstar (@wandrinstar) February 26, 2022
Starlink is Musk's space-based satellite system that aims to bring internet access to underserved areas of the world.
The service is hard to disrupt by foreign influence, which means Russia is now unlikely to prevent Ukraine from communicating with the outside world.
Greater connectivity means Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister can continue to rally for global support.
Mark Zuckerberg, while you create Metaverse - Russia ruins real life in Ukraine! We ask you to ban access to @facebookapp and @instagram from Russia - as long as tanks and missiles attack our kindergartens and hospitals! @Meta.
- Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 27, 2022
Fedorov, who is also Ukraine's Minister of Digital Transformation, has called out multiple global brands to impose digital sanctions on Russian users for 'as long as tanks and missiles attack our kindergartens and hospitals'.
Mark Zuckerberg's Meta (Facebook and Instagram) responded in a statement that their platforms would support Ukraine by establishing a specialist operations centre staffed by Russian and Ukrainian native speakers for those who need help.
Additional safety features have also been added and there is an intensified focus on the spread of misinformation.
Google, Youtube, Dmarket, Visa, and Mastercard were all called upon to impose similar restrictions to Russian users.
