Elon Musk Activates Starlink in Ukraine After Minister’s Appeal

Originally published 2022-03-01.

On 26 February 2022, two days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine's digital transformation minister Mykhailo Fedorov publicly asked Elon Musk on Twitter to send Starlink satellite internet terminals. Later the same day Musk replied that Starlink service was now active in Ukraine and that more terminals were on their way. The first shipment arrived on 28 February.

That quick exchange began one of the most closely watched stories of the war: a private company's satellite network becoming a lifeline for civilians, emergency services and, before long, Ukraine's armed forces. Here is how it happened, what Starlink actually does, how it was used, and the controversies that followed.

The appeal and Musk's reply

Fedorov, then both a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, contrasted Musk's ambitions in space with the Russian missiles striking Ukrainian cities. His message ended with a plain request:

“We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations.” (Mykhailo Fedorov, Twitter, 26 February 2022)

Ukraine's official Twitter account amplified the appeal, urging Musk to support the country.

Dear @elonmusk 👋

Ukraine needs your support. Your stance and your actions matter.

An appeal by our Minister of Digital Transformation here👇 https://t.co/7dhrwApApZ

— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) February 26, 2022

Musk answered the same day: “Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.” Fedorov soon posted a photo of a truck loaded with terminals arriving in the country, and the official Ukraine account thanked Musk.

Starlink terminals are coming to Ukraine! Thank you @elonmusk, thank you everyone, who supported Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/xHDYHunhsW

— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 26, 2022

thanx, appreciate it https://t.co/OWm2Yu2WKC

— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) February 26, 2022

What Starlink is and why it mattered

Starlink is a network of small satellites run by SpaceX, Musk's rocket company. The first batch of 60 operational satellites was launched in May 2019, and by early 2022 roughly two thousand had been put into low Earth orbit, around 550 kilometres up. Users connect through a flat, pizza-box-sized dish with a phased-array antenna that tracks satellites as they pass overhead. The satellites relay traffic to ground stations linked to the wider internet.

That design made it unusually useful in a war zone. It does not depend on local fibre-optic cables, mobile masts or power grids that can be bombed or cut, and a terminal can be set up anywhere with a clear view of the sky and a power source. On 24 February 2022, an hour before the invasion began, a cyberattack had disrupted Viasat, a satellite internet service used in Ukraine, which showed how vulnerable existing networks were.

How Ukraine used the terminals

Terminals reached hospitals, energy companies, local governments and families in areas where other connections had failed. They helped keep government services, news and contact with relatives running.

Military use, which was only suspected when this story first broke, soon became well documented. Starlink connected command posts and front-line units, supported drone operations and the transmission of video for artillery spotting, and was used to control Ukraine's naval drone boats. Its narrow beams and encryption made it hard for Russia to jam, though Russian electronic warfare did cause problems at times, and Ukrainian soldiers learned to hide or shield their dishes.

Who paid for Starlink in Ukraine

The early headlines described Musk "donating" internet to Ukraine. The reality was shared. By April 2022 SpaceX had sent about 5,000 terminals, roughly three quarters donated by the company and the rest bought by the US Agency for International Development. By December 2022 the total had reached around 22,000.

Poland paid for the largest number of terminals, almost 9,000, and the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Czechia, charities and crowdfunding campaigns also contributed. In September 2022 SpaceX asked the Pentagon to take over funding, and in June 2023 the US Department of Defense signed a contract to buy Starlink services for Ukraine.

Controversies and limits

The war also showed the risks of relying on one company, and one person, for vital infrastructure.

• Crimea: Musk declined a Ukrainian request to extend coverage near Crimea during a planned drone attack on the Russian fleet, citing US sanctions and fears of escalation. Critics said a private businessman was effectively making military decisions.
• Russian use: In February 2024 Ukrainian intelligence said Russian forces were using thousands of Starlink terminals, reportedly bought through intermediaries. SpaceX and the Pentagon later moved to block such use.
• Public spats: Musk's comments on the war, including peace proposals that angered Ukrainian officials, repeatedly drew criticism, even as Ukraine continued to depend on the service.

The wider tech front of the war

Fedorov's tweet to Musk was part of a broader strategy. His ministry contacted hundreds of companies in the first months of the war, asking them to stop doing business in Russia, and dozens withdrew completely. He also reportedly appealed to streaming services such as Netflix to restrict access in Russia. Volunteers organised by his ministry formed the so-called IT Army of Ukraine, which carried out cyberattacks on Russian websites.

Fedorov himself became one of the most prominent faces of Ukraine's wartime technology push and was appointed Minister of Defence in January 2026.

Why this moment still matters

The exchange of tweets on 26 February 2022 showed how quickly modern technology can be mobilised in a crisis, and how much influence private companies now have over communications in war. Starlink kept Ukrainians connected when cables and towers failed, and it changed how armies think about battlefield networks. It also raised lasting questions about who should control such systems and what happens when a company owner's views diverge from those of the people relying on them.

Sources: Wikipedia: Starlink in the Russo-Ukrainian war; Wikipedia: Starlink; Wikipedia: Mykhailo Fedorov; original tweets by Mykhailo Fedorov and @Ukraine.