Putin praises Musk’s technological prowess amidst Starlink concerns

Speaking at the Russia-Africa Summit on Wednesday, Putin described Musk as “truly a genius,” noting that SpaceX has deployed over 5,000 satellites while Russia is just beginning its efforts.

The relationship between the two figures raises potential geopolitical considerations. Recently, Musk has expressed dissatisfaction with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose nation has been engaged in a conflict with Russia since 2022.

Concerns arose earlier this month when the U.S. relaxed sanctions against Russia, prompting fears that Ukraine might lose access to Starshield, the military version of Starlink, which is crucial for Ukrainian forces.

For approximately ten days prior, Ukrainian drones experienced disruptions in connectivity. Reports suggest that Musk instructed SpaceX to restrict Starlink access in Ukraine, although other sources indicate the order originated from the White House. Musk attributed the restriction to alleged violations of Starlink’s terms of service, claiming Ukraine used the technology for “offensive drone strikes to kill people.”

Starlink services in Ukraine have since returned to normal operation.

“Were Starlink to be turned off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately,” Musk posted on X. “This is NOT a threat, it is simply a statement of fact.”