According to Shotwell, the Starlink broadband service provided by SpaceX was to enable the Ukrainian government to undertake humanitarian operations.
However, the company now believes that the internet service was leveraged to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with combat capabilities including uncrewed aerial devices.
It is estimated that there are over 23,00 Starlink stations in Ukraine.
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“We were really pleased to be able to provide Ukraine connectivity and help them in their fight for freedom,” Shotwell told the conference.
“It was never intended to be weaponised, but the Ukrainians have leveraged it in ways that were unintentional and not part of any agreement.”
It has been revealed that the company has now limited Ukraine’s use of the Starlink service.
“There are things that we can do and have done.”
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Starlink uses low-orbit satellites to provide download speeds of up to 200 Mb/s to users — quicker than the 25-30 Mb/s typically provided by its higher-orbit rivals.
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