Elon Musk Vows Starlink Will “Never” Be Shut Off for Ukraine

American billionaire Elon Musk confirmed that he will “never” disable Starlink satellite terminals in Ukraine, regardless of his stance on the country’s policies, he said on March 9.

“To be extremely clear, no matter how much I disagree with the Ukraine policy, Starlink will never turn off its terminals,” Musk emphasized.

He added, “We would never do such a thing or use it as a bargaining chip.”

However, Musk reiterated his belief that without Starlink, Ukraine’s front line “would collapse, as the Russians can jam all other communications.”

Starlink, a satellite-based internet network, is operated by SpaceX, the company founded by Musk, played a crucial role in supporting Ukraine’s military and civilian infrastructure, providing internet connectivity in war-affected areas.

Earlier, Reuters reported that U.S. officials discussed the possibility of restricting Ukraine’s access to the Starlink satellite internet system if Kyiv refuses to agree to terms on a strategic mineral resources deal.

Before Musk’s statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had addressed speculation about potential disruptions to Ukraine’s access to Starlink, asserting that “no one has threatened to shut it down.”