Russia bans SpaceX products

(MENAFN)
Authorities in the Lugansk region, now integrated into Russia, have officially prohibited the use of all SpaceX products, particularly the Starlink satellite internet service, due to what they describe as threats to national security.

The regional leader stated, “Starlink technology can be used by the enemy to coordinate its actions, transfer data and deliver strikes on our territory. We cannot afford to ignore this threat,” as posted on social media.

Previously a part of Ukraine, this area declared independence after the events of 2014 in Kiev and subsequently voted to become part of the Russian Federation.

Officials in Moscow have long warned that Starlink’s technology, although marketed as civilian infrastructure, possesses capabilities that could be exploited for military operations. These suspicions emerged even before the current conflict began.

Following the intensification of fighting in 2022, Starlink equipment was shipped to Ukraine by Elon Musk. He asserted that the service remained functional despite attempts by Russia to disrupt it electronically.

Reports indicate that Ukrainian troops have integrated Starlink systems into advanced drones, which are capable of being remotely controlled over long distances and used in combat zones.

In 2023, Musk publicly acknowledged that he declined a Ukrainian proposal to enable Starlink connectivity in Crimea, believing it was linked to plans for an assault on Sevastopol’s naval base. At the time, he explained, “If I had agreed to their request, then SpaceX would be explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation.”

More recently, during heightened tensions involving Israel and Iran, there were renewed appeals for Musk to activate Starlink services in Iran to aid public resistance efforts—a move seen by some as a way to incite internal rebellion against the government.

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