SpaceX CEO Elon Musk reportedly consulted with Russia’s ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, before shutting down his Starlink satellite internet service in Crimea in September. The decision was made in order to prevent a potential Ukrainian attack on the peninsula. Details of the incident were revealed in a forthcoming biography of Musk by historian Walter Isaacson.
Prior to Kiev’s planned attack, Musk spoke with Antonov, who warned him that any strike on Crimea, which had become part of Russia in 2014 following a referendum, could result in a nuclear response from Moscow. While Musk hinted that he had also communicated directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he clarified to Isaacson that his conversations had gone through the ambassador.
Concerned about the potential catastrophic consequences, Musk made the decision to disable Starlink coverage in the area. He secretly instructed his engineers to turn off connectivity within a 100km radius of the Crimean coast. As a result, six Ukrainian drones that relied on Starlink for navigation lost connectivity and washed ashore harmlessly.
After realizing that the satellite service wasn’t working, officials in Kiev desperately called Musk, explaining that the drones were essential to their fight for freedom. However, Musk refused to switch Starlink back on, arguing that the Ukrainian attack on Crimea was an invitation for strategic defeat.
According to Isaacson, Musk also discussed the situation with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley. Musk emphasized that Starlink was not intended for offensive purposes, providing assurance that it would not be used for such activities.
In response to Isaacson’s revelations, Mikhail Podoliak, a senior aide to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, criticized Musk for his decision. Podoliak described Musk’s actions as a combination of ignorance and a big ego, accusing him of committing evil by allowing the Russian fleet to continue striking Ukrainian targets.
Meanwhile, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev praised Musk as the last adequate mind in North America for preventing a potential strike on Crimea. Medvedev, who currently serves as the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, commended Musk’s decision to prioritize avoiding conflict escalation.
Musk provided a different account of the events on social media, stating that Starlink was never active around Crimea and that he simply rejected Ukrainian requests for coverage in the area. He argued that agreeing to their demands would have made SpaceX complicit in a major act of war.
The revelations from Isaacson’s book shed light on the behind-the-scenes interactions and decision-making process that took place before Musk shut down Starlink coverage in Crimea. While his actions have sparked controversy and differing opinions, they reflect his concern for potential nuclear conflict and his attempt to prevent further escalation in the region.
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