Elon Musk says SpaceX can no longer fund Ukraine’s Starlink satellites

Elon Musk escalated his personal battle with Ukraine with a promise to no longer provide funding for donated Starlink internet terminals — a move that could prove disastrous in the nation’s ongoing war with Russia.

“SpaceX is not asking to recoup past expenses, but also cannot fund the existing system indefinitely and send several thousand more terminals that have data usage up to 100X greater than typical households. This is unreasonable,” Musk wrote in a tweet shared Friday.

“We’ve also had to defend against cyberattacks & jamming, which are getting harder,” he added.

The confirmation comes days after Musk’s online spat with Ukrainian diplomat Andrij Melnyk, sparked by a poll he shared with his 107 million Twitter followers. He dubbed the poll his “Ukraine-Russia Peace” plan, which includes demands Kremlin officials have made repeatedly in recent months, and then offered his followers an opportunity to vote “yes” in support of his ideas or “no.”

“Redo elections of annexed regions under UN supervision. Russia leaves if that is will of the people. Crimea formally part of Russia, as it has been since 1783 (until Khrushchev’s mistake). Water supply to Crimea assured. Ukraine remains neutral,” Musk tweeted.

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“F–k off is my very diplomatic reply to you @ElonMusk,” Melnyk wrote in response.

The world’s richest man on Friday said he was simply “following (Melnyk’s) recommendation” when he made the decision.

But a letter from SpaceX obtained by CNN shows the plan to cut off funding was in the works well before the online drama.

Last month, Musk’s SpaceX sent a note to the Pentagon saying it can no longer foot the bill for the Starlink service and requested that the Department of Defense take over funding for Ukraine’s government and military use of the internet service. The company claimed it cost more than $120 million for the rest of the year and could cost close to $400 million for the next 12 months.

A Pentagon spokesperson said the department has been “in touch with SpaceX” regarding the Starlink system, but declined to answer whether a letter was received or provide any further details.

The Starlink system, made up of more than 2,200 low-orbiting satellites, has provided broadband internet to more than 150,000 Ukrainian ground stations. Because it is the nation’s primary mode of communication, a shutdown could deliver a major advantage to Russia, which has sought to jam signals and phone service amid the ongoing conflict.

With News Wire Services