"Cut Off Starlink": Musk's Remark Sparks High Alert in Europe

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated that he blocked the Ukrainian military from using the Starlink satellite internet service for offensive drone operations last week.

This statement came after services were normalized, following disruptions to military operations caused by the satellite communication restrictions that lasted for over a week.

Local time yesterday (October 24), Musk wrote on X, "The Ukrainian military violated Starlink's terms of service by using it for offensive drone operations to kill people," adding, "That loophole was blocked last week."

Musk emphasized, "Using Starlink, a commercial civilian service, for offensive drone operations to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it ever be."

However, regarding Starshield, a separate military satellite communication system, Musk distinguished operational responsibility by stating, "It is controlled by the U.S. government, and how it is used is up to them to decide."

Based on the Starlink satellite network, Starshield has played a core role in the Ukrainian military's drone operations and communications. However, it is known that speed restrictions were placed on Starshield after Ukraine clashed with the U.S. in mid-October over the "energy ceasefire" proposed by U.S. President Trump, disrupting military capabilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated local time yesterday that communication functions for Starshield, the military version of Starlink, have been restored to pre-restriction levels.

Yet, this incident has put U.S. allies on high alert.

As communication networks essential for military operations can be restricted by the decision of a single individual, Elon Musk, a growing sense of crisis has emerged that reliance on a specific private company could become a vulnerability to national security.

The Wall Street Journal reported that this has prompted U.S. allies to rush the establishment of independent satellite communication networks.

First, Ukraine announced plans to participate in building a satellite communication network spearheaded by Finnish satellite company ICEYE and telecommunications equipment maker Nokia, while Canada's Telesat has also pushed forward with constructing "Lightspeed," a low-Earth orbit communication network consisting of 288 satellites.

The European Union plans to invest about $17.5 billion, equivalent to 25 trillion won, to build "IRIS²," its own independent communication network consisting of 348 satellites.

However, while Starlink currently operates over 11,000 satellites, Europe's representative low-Earth orbit satellite communications company, OneWeb, has only around 650, leading to forecasts that it will be difficult to replace Starlink in the short term.

Reported by Lee Ho-geon | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.