Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Netanyahu: If Lebanese Army takes steps to disarm Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including phased reduction of Israeli military presence in Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Photojournalist Houssam Al-Masri martyred, reporters Hatem Omar, Mohammad Ashraf Salameh injured in Israeli strike on Nasser Medical Complex.
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace

Elon Musk demands Pentagon to fund Ukraine Starlink satellites

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: CNN + Agencies
  • 14 Oct 2022 09:56
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

As SpaceX can no longer handle the costs of deploying Starlink over Ukraine, Musk is requesting the US military to take over funding.

  • x
  • Elon Musk requests Pentagon funds Ukraine Starlink satellites
    Elon Musk requests Pentagon funds for Ukraine Starlink satellites

According to corporate documents obtained by CNN, tech billionaire Elon Musk's aerospace firm SpaceX has requested the US military to take over funding for its Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, claiming that it is no longer able to cover the costs of operations.

SpaceX highlighted its financial issues and urged the government to begin funding Starlink services for Ukraine in a letter sent to the Pentagon last month, stating it will cost more than $120 million for the remainder of 2022 and $400 million over the next year.

“We are not in a position to further donate terminals to Ukraine, or fund the existing terminals for an indefinite period of time,” SpaceX’s director of government sales explained in the letter.

Since the beginning of the crisis in late February, SpaceX has provided around 20,000 Starlink satellite units to Ukraine, providing internet connectivity and military cooperation in chaotic battlegrounds that would otherwise be cut off from the internet. Ukrainian officials have praised the system as "an essential part of critical infrastructure."

Related News

Trump-Musk feud sends Tesla stock plunging

Gulf investments quietly boosted Elon Musk and family fortunes

Despite this, Kiev has pressed the firm to supply thousands more Starlink terminals. Another letter acquired by CNN revealed that a top Ukrainian general, Valery Zaluzhny, specifically requested 8,000 devices in July.

An external SpaceX consultant wrote that the firm “faces terribly difficult decisions here,” adding “I do not think they have the financial ability to provide any additional terminals or service as requested by General Zaluzhny.”

While Musk has indicated that SpaceX will have committed more than $100 million to supply Starlink services to Ukraine by the end of 2022, the firm's letter to the Pentagon implies that other entities have contributed to some of the expenditures. The "vast majority" of the 20,000 units provided to Ukraine have received "full or partial funding" from the governments of the US, the UK, and Poland, as well as NGOs and private fundraisers, however, SpaceX has covered the majority of the monthly service costs of around $4,500 per terminal.

More recently, SpaceX has been criticized for purported Starlink disruptions in parts of Ukraine. The Financial Times, for example, cited accusations from the Ukrainian military of a "catastrophic" loss of communications last week. 

The origin of the outages is unknown, as Ukrainian officials believe the issues were not caused by a technical defect or hacking, instead pointing to "SpaceX-imposed geographical restrictions." However, service has subsequently been restored in the impacted locations.

Read moe: Musk's Starlink, Space X arms of US empire & war machine: MintPress

  • SpaceX
  • Starlink satellite
  • Pentagon
  • US
  • Elon Musk
  • Ukraine
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Palestine will not be liberated by UN reports, but by pursuing a different strategic horizon: one that does not beg for recognition. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Economy of Genocide: Albanese's report accuses, but doesn't dismantle system

  • Opinion
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS