Elon Musk Speaks Out Amidst Reports Starlink Was Blocked During Major Ukrainian Offensive



SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has denied blocking Kyiv’s access to the company’s Starlink satellite communications network in order to hobble a major offensive and called for an immediate truce between Russia and Ukraine, stressing that the war has stagnated and is not worth the lives being lost fighting it.

READ MORE: https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/09/08/elon-musk-calls-for-truce-between-russia-and-ukraine-as-he-denies-blocking-kyivs-starlink-access-during-major-offensive/?sh=120f165975e5

Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:

https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript

Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com

source

40 thoughts on “Elon Musk Speaks Out Amidst Reports Starlink Was Blocked During Major Ukrainian Offensive”

  1. It is important to clarify that when Musk calls for a truce between Russia and Ukraine, he means Ukraine's capitulation. And this, in turn, will mean the continuation of terror, torture and extermination of the Ukrainian population. Everyone who proposes this so-called truce must realize that they are trading the lives and happiness of Ukrainian civilians. It is also important to understand that we are currently living in the shadow of the 2014 peace agreements with Russia. The war in Ukraine is what a peace agreement with Russia looks like.
    On the other hand, when Musk prevented a Ukrainian attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet, he allowed the continued shelling of Ukrainian cities with Kalibr missiles. Thus, this man-child took responsibility for the countless deaths and mutilations in Ukrainian cities and villages. And, as Patriot systems are used to intercept Kalibr missiles, Musk is acting against his own government.

    Reply
  2. It's official ladies and gentlemen, Elon Musk is a coward. He says he cares about democracy and so he buys twitter. But when democracy is actually under threat, he cowers. I don't see anything wrong with the richest and most powerful man in the world taking on a corrupt kleptocracy led by an aging idiot like Putin. Kleptocracies are by nature, bad for business. Rather than taking us to Mars, or doing something that actually affects democracy, he spends his time on Twitter. Where oh where is task force Musk?… the world wonders…

    Reply
  3. Elon Musk turned off internet connection in Sevastopol area at the behest of the Russians just when Ukrainian drones were about to strike at their targets. By interevening militarily against Ukraine, Elon Musk contravenes approved US military policy of retaking Crimea. Elon Musk deserves a court martial in a military court as agent of the Russian Federation.

    Reply
  4. Missed the part where this wasn't only time Musk interfered with Internet, and how it happened when Ukraine was making advances on battlefield against Russia each time. Or that this happened after one of his multiple conversations with Putin. Or that Musk proposed a "peace plan" where Russia gets Ukraine's territory, bears no responsibility for invasion of sovereign country, breaking almost every international law, commiting war crimes/ genocide & that it's not just about territory. It's about Ukrainians in occupied territories being raped, tortured, murdered, denied their national identity, forcibly deported, put through WWII style filtration camps, children stolen. Every liberated territory has mass graves and multiple torture chambers. What happened to "Never again"?

    Or how Putin doesn't want peace negotiations. He's said that 100s of times. He'd like a ceasefire to regroup, rearm, and come back at Ukraine. He's openly stated in last few weeks even, he intends to take entire country. Force them to become Russians whether they like it or not. Over 10 000 Ukrainian children been stolen by Russia. Russia doesn't hide it. Putin and his children's minster admit it on tape. This is genocide, and why there's ICC warrants for both of them. Those warrants never go away, despite Putin putting ICC investigators, court, etc on hit list. This is who Musk talks with, wants to win war, and suggests Ukrainians should just be enslaved to. He should just let Ukraine have internet, and stay out of foreign policy. I'm sure they're not watching Netflix when Russia's dropping bombs on them. If Ukraine would rather fight for freedom than live under enslavement, I can't blame them. It's not Musk who'd have to live it. Maybe he should visit Ukraine. He was invited over a year ago. Talk with Baltic nations who lived under USSR or Russian enslavement. Learn about Holodomor starvation of Ukrainian people.

    If it's upsetting to him. Just don't watch. Or don't pick Russia's side. No different from picking German dictator in WWII. Many good people died in freedom's cause there. China's not going to allow tactical nukes by Russia, and that's not same as Pearl Harbor. Could learn history maybe. It's choice of Ukrainians. It's a war crime for Russian army to target civilians as doing. If Ukraine could win, maybe we'd have 1 less war criminal in world. After all, this isn't first country Putin's done this to. He'll just move on to another country after. He needs stopped, not befriended. He's still killing in Syria, and his mercenaries in Africa. He's currently illegally occupying Georgia and part of Moldova.

    Sadly there aren't any other internet compsnies as good as Musks, Ukraine is largest country in Europe, with many rural areas, and many areas can't get Internet without Starlink, as Russia destroyed its infrastructure. He truly saved Ukraine by helping them. I barely knew who Musk was, but was so impressed cuz he was such a humanitarian. But not right to choose Ukraine's future for them or risk people's lives by playing with Internet. Russia already has such a vast advantage. Ukraine has people waiting to be liberated. Russia's killing them, even children, in occupied territories. 2 weeks ago, Ukraine saved a dozen civilians who'd held on all this time in occupied Robotyne. They waited for their army to rescue them. They were so happy and suffered so much. Russia shot at those civilians as Ukraine took them out.

    This is how much Russia "values" people. It doesn't even value its own people. Civilians or army. Bad Russian army leadership decision sent soldiers into ambush without communications or proper equipment, and a Russian soldier told about it. His commander didn't continue operation and got remaining wounded out. Now, commander sent to mental hospital. Soldier that sent call for help up on criminal charges. Soldier's phones taken looking for one who reported failed operation. Every soldier that got out being charged with something. They weren't convict soldiers, but trained regular army. But they let a story get out about a failed operation, bad leadership. They didn't stay and die during it, or lie about its success like Russian media does. Now every soldier being punished.

    And this is army and leader Musk trying to help? If you listen to any Russian intellectual, former politician or someone who knows who got out of Russia,. they all say, for Russia to become a better country, and have any future, Ukraine must win, retake all its territory, including Crimea. Not just so Putin will negotiate, as it's only way he will, but so Russian people begin to awake from stupor of their propaganda. And it'll take years. Only way Russian people have a future. And Putin must eventually fall from power. But, Russian dictators who lose wars fall. He may even be "traded" to ICC at the Hague for money. But I think Russians know Russia, know better than Musk. They all say west is making things worse by dragging war out, and not helping Ukraine win faster for fear of what Putin may do, and Putin's playing them. Just like he's playing Musk. Cuz that's only card he has left. Scaring people. Hoping pro Russian politicians get elected and save him by doing the 1 thing he can't do… win the war for Russia. Russia not going to NK for artillery ammo cuz it's strong.

    Does Musk really know all this? And more? How thoroughly does he know European, Ukrainian, Baltic, Polish, and Russian history? Going back before US existed? Does he know Ukraine as a country goes back centuries, as Kyiv Rus. That's Ukraine, not Russia. Russia didn't even exist then. Russia descends from the Mongrels, barbaric and totally different people. Not brotherly. That Russia steals Ukraine's history. And rewrites it. Doesn't allow Ukrainian children to speak their native language or sing their anthem in occupied territories. Took all their books and flags. Puts them in military schools at elementary age. Forcibly enlists them to fight against their own relatives. Every day Ukraine doesn't save its people, it gets worse and worse. I'd rather a missile fall on me than "live" like this.

    Lots of equally "bad" things can be done with internet, if you truly think about it. Freeing one's people isn't bad. Russia can just GO HOME at any time. Ukraine can't do that. Russia invaded their home. Russia leaves. No war. Read Ukraine's Peace plan. Negotiations start when Russia leaves Ukraine's land. That's also int'l law and in the UN charter. Ukraine did nothing wrong. So let Ukraine decide. If Russia doesn't want losses, it can go home to its huge homeland and leave Ukraine alone. No one invited them, and even Ukrainians who used to like Russia as neighborly country, vehemently hate them. My guess is, this isn't going away for decades and decades.

    Polls show 87% of Ukrainians won't cede territory for peace, and under Ukraine's constitution, it must be voted on by the people. It's not Zelensky decision. Do people arguing Ukraine's fate even know these things? Zelensky popular with his people, but no Ukrainian leader is going to get Ukrainians to vote for what they don't want. It's democracy. They won't accept it. Esp as there's not a family that hasn't been touched by a Russian war crime or lost some one fighting in the war a war that goes back 10 years now. It's their choice, so they should have the internet and be able to fight without someone handicapping the war in favor of the Russians. They've suffered enough. And just cuz others can't take the ongoing bloodshed, if this is what they want, then so be it. Russia doesn't keep peace treaties. Putin will kill and continue raping, torturing and deporting anyways. And then come back and take the entire country when he's ready. Or has nobody learned anything?

    Reply
  5. Elon is just another basic billionaire who gobbles up politicians to further his causes. Any act of kindness is just cheap perfume to cover up the stench of rows of decaying humans who were collateral damage in his pursuit to play God

    Reply
  6. Considering the horrific scale of war atrocities Russia committed against the Ukrainian people there are no grounds whatsoever for Ukraine to consider any concessions towards Russian aggressors. Musk needs to get a grip on reality.

    Reply
  7. China, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Argentina are in alignment with the worldview of Russia. Although the Russia allies dislike the hostilities, there is a general understanding that Russia was being threatened by the U.S. pushing NATO expansion.

    Reply
  8. I wonder what you pro Uke people will be thinking when the the Russians feeling no other choice to unleash their ICBM's and you realize you got 30 minutes before you are vaporized that your kids are turned into loose atoms for what? Zelensky, the Mic and Ukraine?

    Reply
  9. Who knows Musk may end up being responsible for Ukraine's defeat but also for preventing nuclear war. He did the right thing, defeat is better than armageddon, he saved humanity again.

    Reply
  10. One has to wonder, if Elon Musk had everything taken from him, including his children, his land, his livelyhood and his hard won ability to feed his family and himself, and indeed even his freedom, if he would then feel it was worth fighting for those things?

    Reply
  11. Musky is becoming like pooton with his billionaire mindset to make decisions for countries. If his company was being attacked and someone stopped him from fighting the assailants I bet he wouldn't like that. This child like idiot needs to be charged with a crime.

    Reply
  12. truce should be called from both sides, who control the land now looks after it, bearing in mind that Ukraine can get it back when they prove sovereignty from the west. They want to be free and govern themselves don't join EU and Nato be sovereign

    Reply
  13. Government should take control of Starlink if Musk tries to make military decisions again. He is responsible for Ukrainian deaths since those ships fire missiles into Ukraine.

    Reply
  14. It's ugly – and I'm glad I don't live in either country. My family went through Nazi occupation during WWII and Soviet Occupation from the 60's thru the 90's so I have some experience with the dynamics involved. As far as I can tell, Russia hasn't put forth any resolution or proposal for peace – and any peace will be temporary – with Ukraine continuing to be squarely in the sights of further missile attacks if they start to rebuild anything. Nobody's going to invest in Ukraine until there's a permanent truce – not just appeasement that lets Russia regroup and re-arm with Chinese, Iranian and N. Korean weapons for round 2 of what will undoubtedly be a genocide combined with decades-long occupation and subjugation to create a launchpad for further Westward expansion as Russia's dis-info campaigns weaken NATO further. Slovakian elections are coming on the 30th – chances are, they will stop supporting Ukraine so that may expedite temporary appeasement as other countries jump onboard. Musk has no foreign policy experience, or access to critical inte| – other than what the Russians tell him. And he trusts them more than he trusts his own government – sure, there are reasons for that – but only because this government allows for more transparency than most (of course it could be better). As a thought experiment, imagine if he ran X from Russia and allowed Russian citizens to criticize their own government from his platform the way they do in the US.

    Reply

Leave a Comment