Poland’s PM Accuses Starlink of “Making Money on War Crimes”

(MENAFN) Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has publicly accused Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service of “making money on war crimes,” claiming on Tuesday that the network is being used by Russian forces to facilitate drone strikes in Ukraine.

Speaking on the social media platform X, Sikorski argued that Starlink, operated by Musk’s SpaceX, has become integrated into Russia’s battlefield infrastructure, despite Western sanctions and repeated assurances that the service would not be accessible to Moscow. He contended that the satellite connectivity enabling Russian drone operations directly contributes to attacks on both civilian and military targets in Ukraine. “Starlink is making money on war crimes,” Sikorski wrote.

The statement reignites an ongoing public disagreement between the Polish foreign minister and Musk over the role and accountability of private technology companies in modern warfare. Musk has previously dismissed Sikorski’s criticisms, and in a widely circulated exchange last year, he referred to the minister as “a little man” after questions were raised about Starlink’s strategic influence in the Ukraine conflict.

Starlink has been widely credited with supporting Ukraine’s defense since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, maintaining internet connectivity for Ukrainian forces after Russian attacks disrupted much of the country’s telecommunications infrastructure. Kyiv has said the system has been critical for command, control, and battlefield coordination.

However, reports dating back to 2023 suggested that Russian forces may have gained some access to the network, raising concerns about how private technology is leveraged in conflicts and the potential for unintended consequences.

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