Ukraine's official Twitter handle, and Fedorov later thanked Elon Musk and the country's ambassador to USA Oksana Markarova that allowed them to activate Starlink in Ukraine.
Elon Musk said on Saturday that his company SpaceX's Starlink satellite broadband service has become active in Ukraine. The move came after the country's deputy prime minister and minister of digital transformation Mykhailo Fedorov urged Russia to provide satellite-based communications to help it resist aggression.
"Starlink service is now active in Ukraine," Musk tweeted, adding "more terminals en route."
@elonmusk, while you try to colonize Mars — Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand.
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 26, 2022
Starlink Internet has 145,000 users in 25 countries. According to Musk, the Ledger satellite links ensure smooth operation and reliable Internet coverage.
Elon Musk's tweet came nearly 10 hours after Fedorov appealed to provide Starlink services in Ukraine.
"When you try to colonize Mars - Russia tries to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully descend from space - Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civilian people! We're going to provide you with the Starlink station to Ukraine." Says for," Fedorov tweeted at Musk.
@elonmusk, while you try to colonize Mars — Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand.
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 26, 2022
Internet monitor Netblox said Ukraine has seen "a series of significant disruptions to Internet service" since Thursday, when Russia launched a military operation in the country.
Ukraine's official Twitter handle and Fedorov later thanked Elon Musk and the country's ambassador to the USA, Oksana Markova, for allowing them to activate Starlink in Ukraine.
Starlink is one of several companies launching small satellites to provide broadband Internet services in areas where terrestrial networks are difficult to establish. This enables satellites to operate without sending data back to the ground station. Instead, data is insured between satellites using a laser link, enabling faster transfer speeds.