Ukraine to get 10,000 more Starlink antennas; funding problems are “resolved”
Enlarge / A Starlink satellite dish in Odesa, Ukraine, in March 2022. (credit: Getty Images | NurPhoto )
Ukraine will get more than 10,000 more Starlink terminals in the coming months thanks to a new deal with SpaceX and funding from several European countries, Ukraine government official Mykhailo Fedorov said in an interview with Bloomberg. Fedorov said that "all financial issues have been resolved," at least until the spring.
SpaceX previously asked the Pentagon to fund the Ukraine government and military's use of Starlink broadband, saying it can't afford to donate more user terminals or pay for operations indefinitely. But CEO Elon Musk backtracked from that stance in October, writing, "The hell with it... even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we'll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free."
Fedorov, Ukraine's vice prime minister and minister of digital transformation, said in the new interview with Bloomberg that "Musk assured us he will continue to support Ukraine. When we had a powerful blackout, I messaged him on that day and he momentarily reacted and has already delivered some steps. He understands the situation."