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Russia Threatens to Target Starlink Satellite System in Bid to Cripple Ukraine Communications
[PJMedia] Russia, angry about Ukraine’s sophisticated ability to communicate in real time on the battlefield, appears willing to risk a ruinous war in outer space to stop it.Elon Musk donated 20,000 Starlink satellites to Ukraine at an estimated cost of $100 million. The Starlink system, which offers high-speed broadband internet service anywhere in the world, has proven to be a valuable tool for the Ukraine army in the war. Easy to use, secure, and portable, Starlink has leveled the playing field with Russia in many respects. Now, Moscow is warning the U.S. and Western nations that they may attack those satellites as legitimate targets of war. "We would like to specifically stress an extremely dangerous trend that goes beyond the harmless use of outer space technologies and has become apparent during the latest developments in Ukraine," said Russian foreign ministry spokesman Konstantin Vorontsovat at a UN meeting. "Namely, the use by the United States and its allies of civilian, including commercial, infrastructure elements in outer space for military purposes," he added, noting that the use of satellites "constitute[s] indirect participation" in the war. "Quasi-civilian infrastructure may become a legitimate target for retaliation." That fact hit home for Elon Musk last week when he indicated he was through paying the bill for Starlink on his own dime. He threatened to end Starlink service for Ukraine unless the U.S. government helped pick up the tab. The Pentagon wisely declined. The Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space forbids the U.S. from using its own space assets to assist a belligerent in a war. Posted by: DarthVader 2022-10-27 |
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