Elon Musk decided to disable the Starlink satellite internet in the Kherson region in the fall of 2022 during the key counteroffensive of the Ukrainian army. The order was given to senior SpaceX engineer Michael Nichols, who carried out the command, cutting coverage in this area, including Kherson.
This action led to the disruption of military operations, as Ukrainian troops lost communication due to the Starlink shutdown. Drones monitoring Russian forces lost connection, and artillery units were unable to engage targets. This led to the failure of attempts to encircle Russian positions in Beryslav.
'The encirclement was completely stopped. It failed,' - said a representative of the Ukrainian army.
Contradictions in Musk's Statements
The information about the Starlink shutdown in Ukraine contradicts previous statements from Elon Musk, who had claimed that this would never happen. SpaceX denies this information, calling it 'inaccurate,' but did not provide specific explanations.
It is known that Starlink in Ukraine is of great importance, as Kyiv received over 50,000 terminals, which became a critical communication tool for the Ukrainian army during the Russian invasion. Musk's decision surprised Starlink employees and effectively changed the front line during the conflict.
The Ukrainian army used Starlink satellite internet to maintain communication during military operations throughout the conflict with Russia. Musk's shutdown of Starlink in the Kherson region in the fall of 2022 caused serious problems for Ukrainian military forces, leading to the failure of certain operational actions. The decision of the SpaceX founder surprised and sparked controversy, as he had previously claimed that such a shutdown would not occur. Musk's sudden change of stance triggered a wave of reactions regarding the changing circumstances during the conflict in eastern Ukraine.