Former defence minister Fedorov is in talks with Elon Musk over Starlink for strikes on targets in Russia
Former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has said he is continuing talks with SpaceX owner Elon Musk about the possibility of using the Starlink internet service to target sites in Russia, including ballistic missile launchers.
Source: Fedorov on the YouTube channel of Serhii Sternenko
Details: Sternenko asked Fedorov whether it was true that he had held talks with Musk about giving Ukraine the ability to target Russian ballistic missile systems inside Russia using Starlink.
Quote: "Yes, the information was public... We are in communication with Musk; we last spoke a few days ago. It is a difficult task at the moment to achieve the result we need through this communication."
Details: Fedorov recalled that his talks with Musk had helped disable Starlink access for Russians operating in Ukraine, as the use of the satellite internet service on Shahed drones had posed a major risk to Ukraine at the time.
"Discussions are ongoing. I cannot disclose all the details, but we will do everything we can to achieve the desired result," he added.
Background:
- On 25 January, Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian military radio technology expert who was appointed as technology adviser to Fedorov, stated that Russian forces were likely using Starlink satellite internet to operate Shahed loitering munitions.
- Elon Musk responded to Fedorov's request for help in addressing the use of Starlink to operate Russian strike UAVs.
- On 1 February, Musk noted that steps taken to prevent Russia's unauthorised use of Starlink satellite internet had likely been effective.
- The same day, Fedorov announced that a system was being gradually rolled out that would ensure that only authorised Starlink terminals worked on the territory of Ukraine.
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