SpaceX Sends Additional Starlink to Ukraine, Focuses on Cyber Defense to Prevent Signal Jamming

SpaceX's Starlink is sending another batch of Starlink terminals to assure Ukrainian citizens stay online.

SpaceX already responded to Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, however, Elon Musk and President Zelensky have more plans in store.

Musk also admitted that there are imposed threats when using satellites. With that, he stated that SpaceX is prioritizing its cyber defense and signal jamming.

Elon Musk's Starlink in Ukraine

According to Engadget, SpaceX's Starlink satellites are sending in a new batch of starlink terminals for internet connectivity. The announcement came from Ukraine's President Zelensky.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he recently had a conversation with Elon Musk.

Zelensky tweeted stating that he is grateful to Elon Musk for his support of Ukraine through words and deeds. He also added that there will be a delivery of another batch of Starlink systems for destroyed cities scheduled to begin next week.

After the Russian military advanced last month, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's vice prime minister made a plea to Elon Musk asking him to help the citizens of Ukraine. The plea comes after Russia continues to destroy Ukraine's towers for connectivity.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, responded with offers of assistance, as well as confirmation that the Starlink network had been activated in Ukraine. Shortly after the plea, Musk quickly responded by deploying a truckload of Starlink user terminals.

These terminals will assist the people of Ukraine in gaining access to the internet despite the fact that Russia has bombed their internet transmission facilities.

Danger of Satellite Internet

On Friday, March 4, Musk tweeted an important warning about having the internet based on a satellite. Musk tweeted, "Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so probability of being targeted is high. Please use with caution."

It is recommended by experts that the Starlink satellite dish be placed in a safe location away from the general public and critical infrastructure in case Russia decides to bomb the operation for security reasons.

John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher, stated in a series of 15 tweets outlining the dangers of targeting satellite communications and that Russia has decades of experience attacking people by intercepting their satellite communications. He said that Starlink satellites allow the Russian military to triangulate and target satellite signals from the ground in Ukraine, as a result of the development. Furthermore, he pointed out that the Russian military has previously used the method to lethal effect in Chechnya and Syria.

SpaceX Prioritizing Cyber Defense & Signal Jamming

Musk and SpaceX responded to a Ukrainian government official's request by sending Starlink terminals to Ukraine, where internet service had been disrupted across the country as a result of the Russian invasion.

Ukraine's internet infrastructure has been put to the test as a result of Russia's invasion. Intense fighting in Ukrainian cities such as Kyiv and Mariupol has caused service interruptions at GigaTrans, the country's primary internet provider. A shipment of Starlink ground terminals, which connect to the satellite broadband service through the use of an antenna and a terminal, arrived in Ukraine on Monday, Feb. 28.

SpaceX is working to keep the terminals operational while they are in use, according to Musk.

Space.com reported that as a result of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said Friday, March 5, that his company is now concentrating on cyber defense and overcoming signal jamming of its Starlink internet satellites.

Musk later stated that SpaceX is refocusing its efforts to ensure that its Starlink service remains uninterrupted in Ukraine and, most likely, other countries.

Musk tweeted, "SpaceX reprioritized cyber defense & overcoming signal jamming." However, in the same tweet, he also added that Starship & Starlink V2 will experience delays as they shift focus.