Elon Musk said his company SpaceX cannot fund Starlink’s service in Ukraine “indefinitely”.
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Elon Musk He said Friday that SpaceX cannot continue funding Starlink stations in Ukraine “indefinitely,” after a report suggested his space exploration company had asked the Pentagon to cover costs.
Starlink internet stations donated by SpaceX were crucial to keeping the Ukrainian military online during the war against Russia, even as the communications infrastructure was destroyed.
Last week, Musk tweeted that the operation has cost SpaceX $80 million so far, and will cross $100 million by the end of the year.
On Friday, the billionaire, who is also the CEO of TeslaHe said SpaceX cannot fund the current system “indefinitely” and send several thousand high-data terminals.
follow CNN reports that SpaceX has told the US government that it can no longer fund Starlink services in Ukraine. The report cited documents obtained from the Pentagon and said that SpaceX is asking the US government to pay for the stations instead.
The letter from SpaceX to the Pentagon claimed that Ukraine’s use of the Starlink program could cost nearly $400 million over the next 12 months, according to a CNN report.
In a separate tweet on Friday, Musk appeared to confirm that SpaceX was somehow leaving Ukraine, in response to a Twitter post that referenced the Ukrainian ambassador. He told Musk earlier this month to “stop working.”
“We’re just following his recommendation,” Musk replied.
The SpaceX founder angered Ukrainian politicians when he posted a poll on Twitter measuring support for what he claimed was a possible outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war.
A SpaceX spokesperson was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.
