Responding to reports which suggested that Starlink internet satellites made by his company SpaceX are being used by Russian forces in occupied Ukraine, Elon Musk has said that no Starlink terminal has been sold directly or indirectly to Russia.
“A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia. This is categorically false,” Musk said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia,” the billionaire noted, adding that Starlink satellites will not close the link in Russia.
Notably, Starlink terminals are “geofenced” so they do not function in unauthorised locations.
Russia denies its troops using Starlink
Russia has also denied the use of Starlink satellites saying that the system is neither certified for use in, nor officially supplied to, Russia, and therefore could not be used.
“This is not a certified system with us; accordingly, it cannot be officially supplied here and is not officially supplied. Accordingly, it cannot be used officially in any way,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by news agency Reuters.
Ukraine, which has used Starlink for military communications during the war with Russia, said recently that the Russian troops were using Starlink in parts of Ukraine they control.
No business with Russia, says SpaceX
Previously, SpaceX said it does not do business of any kind with the Russian government or its military.
“SpaceX has never sold or marketed Starlink in Russia, nor has it shipped equipment to locations in Russia. If Russian stores are claiming to sell Starlink for service in that country, they are scamming their customers,” said the company.
“If SpaceX obtains knowledge that a Starlink terminal is being used by a sanctioned or unauthorised party, we investigate the claim and take actions to deactivate the terminal if confirmed,” it added.
“A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia. This is categorically false,” Musk said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia,” the billionaire noted, adding that Starlink satellites will not close the link in Russia.
Notably, Starlink terminals are “geofenced” so they do not function in unauthorised locations.
Russia denies its troops using Starlink
Russia has also denied the use of Starlink satellites saying that the system is neither certified for use in, nor officially supplied to, Russia, and therefore could not be used.
“This is not a certified system with us; accordingly, it cannot be officially supplied here and is not officially supplied. Accordingly, it cannot be used officially in any way,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by news agency Reuters.
Ukraine, which has used Starlink for military communications during the war with Russia, said recently that the Russian troops were using Starlink in parts of Ukraine they control.
No business with Russia, says SpaceX
Previously, SpaceX said it does not do business of any kind with the Russian government or its military.
“SpaceX has never sold or marketed Starlink in Russia, nor has it shipped equipment to locations in Russia. If Russian stores are claiming to sell Starlink for service in that country, they are scamming their customers,” said the company.
“If SpaceX obtains knowledge that a Starlink terminal is being used by a sanctioned or unauthorised party, we investigate the claim and take actions to deactivate the terminal if confirmed,” it added.
