**Summary:** Yet again, Elon Musk, world’s richest man, has tipped the scales in favor of Ukraine. Starlink, the Musk-owned creation that has decentralized internet access through a constellation of satellites is now denied to Russian invaders in Ukraine Without the ability to operate drones or communicate using Starlink, Ukraine has been able to make measurable gains, reversing Russian advances. However, putting the hopes of your country on the mercurial whims of Musk, isn’t a recipe for longterm success. Starlink functions at the whims of one man, for better or for worse. Nevertheless, the current trend of denying Starlink to Russian invaders is a promising sign for the Ukrainians.
FriscoJones on
I posted this in the DT earlier but I’ll throw it on here in case someone has any ideas.
Does anyone have any theories about what Elon’s endgame is here? Ukrainian officials don’t really seem to be commenting on it. All we know is that this was Elon’s personal decision to cut the ruskies off Starlink. It’s obviously selfishly motivated, because he’s an asshole, and I’m at least happy his obviously selfish motivations align currently with a convenient faceturn on Ukraine for their benefit, but why?
If I was more conspiratorial minded I’d think “Epstein, somehow, some way, I dunno exactly” but don’t even know where to begin constructing some conspiracy there. Something to do with Ukrainian intel’s penetration of Russia? Something he wants out of Russia they’re not willing to give him, but Ukraine had access to and was able to provide him in exchange for cutting off Starlink?
I don’t think this is him “acting out” or feeling emotionally wounded by Russia somehow, if that were it he would be publicly whining about it. He called his old boss a pedophile over sour grapes he was fired, he wouldn’t be shy.
Agreeable_Sample_925 on
this is not surprising if starlink helped russia in anyway it would be phased out of any defense contracts from any western country (in the US once a dem in charge) in short order
algebroni on
As the article pointed out, this is a decision based on the whims of Musk, who has been personally very hostile to Ukraine for years. He’s promoted Russian disinfo (Sacks, Mario Nawfal, etc), spreading it far and wide, definitely contributing to the decrease in support for Ukraine in the West. So I can’t exactly celebrate this latest decision, not because it’s bad, but because Musk is untrustworthy and thus could reverse this decision. I’m glad it’s hurting the Russians, but I won’t trust that it’s a long-term pain until Musk takes a consistently hard-line anti-Russia stance.
firstfreres on
This wasn’t already the policy? Does this company not get contracts from the US DOD?
5 Comments
[archive link](https://archive.is/U8EgU)
**Summary:** Yet again, Elon Musk, world’s richest man, has tipped the scales in favor of Ukraine. Starlink, the Musk-owned creation that has decentralized internet access through a constellation of satellites is now denied to Russian invaders in Ukraine Without the ability to operate drones or communicate using Starlink, Ukraine has been able to make measurable gains, reversing Russian advances. However, putting the hopes of your country on the mercurial whims of Musk, isn’t a recipe for longterm success. Starlink functions at the whims of one man, for better or for worse. Nevertheless, the current trend of denying Starlink to Russian invaders is a promising sign for the Ukrainians.
I posted this in the DT earlier but I’ll throw it on here in case someone has any ideas.
Does anyone have any theories about what Elon’s endgame is here? Ukrainian officials don’t really seem to be commenting on it. All we know is that this was Elon’s personal decision to cut the ruskies off Starlink. It’s obviously selfishly motivated, because he’s an asshole, and I’m at least happy his obviously selfish motivations align currently with a convenient faceturn on Ukraine for their benefit, but why?
If I was more conspiratorial minded I’d think “Epstein, somehow, some way, I dunno exactly” but don’t even know where to begin constructing some conspiracy there. Something to do with Ukrainian intel’s penetration of Russia? Something he wants out of Russia they’re not willing to give him, but Ukraine had access to and was able to provide him in exchange for cutting off Starlink?
I don’t think this is him “acting out” or feeling emotionally wounded by Russia somehow, if that were it he would be publicly whining about it. He called his old boss a pedophile over sour grapes he was fired, he wouldn’t be shy.
this is not surprising if starlink helped russia in anyway it would be phased out of any defense contracts from any western country (in the US once a dem in charge) in short order
As the article pointed out, this is a decision based on the whims of Musk, who has been personally very hostile to Ukraine for years. He’s promoted Russian disinfo (Sacks, Mario Nawfal, etc), spreading it far and wide, definitely contributing to the decrease in support for Ukraine in the West. So I can’t exactly celebrate this latest decision, not because it’s bad, but because Musk is untrustworthy and thus could reverse this decision. I’m glad it’s hurting the Russians, but I won’t trust that it’s a long-term pain until Musk takes a consistently hard-line anti-Russia stance.
This wasn’t already the policy? Does this company not get contracts from the US DOD?