Can Elon Musk Keep Ukraine Online?

Since the Russian invasion began, Ukrainians have shared recipes for making Molotov cocktails and instructions for driving abandoned troop carriers. https://bit.ly/3Km30kK

They’ve used encrypted apps to coordinate tactics and to ask Russians to stand up to their government, who in turn have staged protests in Moscow and other cities.

Though it may end up losing on the battlefield, Ukraine has been able to show the world the brutality and folly of the Russian attack, which is only possible because everyday citizens have retained access to the internet. https://bit.ly/3Km30kK

But maybe not for long: In areas with the heaviest fighting, internet outages are becoming common, and since information is power on the battlefield, there’s a danger that Russia will find a way to knock the country fully offline.

This is why Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation tweeted a plea to Elon Musk, “We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand.”
https://bit.ly/3Km30kK

“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine.” Musk tweeted back later that day, collapsing a regulatory process that can take months or years into under 280 characters.

Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2022
https://bit.ly/3Km30kK