Elon Musk approves satellite communication services for Ukraine

“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine,” Mr Musk, who runs Tesla and SpaceX, said on Twitter. “More terminals en route.”

Businessman Elon Musk on Saturday announced provision of satellite communications over Ukraine, a move that’ll keep the beleaguered country connected to the rest of the world as the war rages.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been targeting Ukraine’s telecommunications infrastructure since he launched an invasion of the neighbours earlier this week.

The Russian leader, who has seen worldwide condemnation and sanctions throughout the week, has been keen on restricting ability of Ukrainians to communicate atrocities of invading soldiers in real time.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has been using Twitter and other Internet platforms to rally his people and update the world about the raging crisis in his country.

Mr Musk’e decision to provide his space Internet to Ukrainians came hours after Mykhailo Fedorov, the vice prime minister ofUkraine, urged him to deploy the facilities and save his people from being silenced by Mr Putin.

“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine,” Mr Musk, who runs Tesla and SpaceX, said on Twitter. “More terminals en route.”

Mr Musk’s space infrastructure cannot be jammed by Russia’s advanced breakers, according to those familiar with how its design.

As Mr Musk’s announcement came, the European Union also disclosed that Russia will be cut from the SWIFT global payment messaging system and also that the country’s central bank reserves would be frozen on a large scale.

The European Union and its allies, which include the United States and Canada, were hoping the move would further isolate Mr Putin and impose maximum pressure on his regime stand down Ukraine operation.