How Will Starlink Help Ukrainian Forces?

Elon Musk’s Starlink has been sent to replenish diminishing access to broadband internet in Ukraine.

Jeremy Kariuki

Friday, March 04, 2022 at 12:40 PM ET

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One thing that sets Starlink terminals apart from your average satellite dish is its small size. [Courtesy: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX provided Starlink terminals to Ukraine to restore critical internet access, disrupted by the Russian invasion, thereby aiding both civilian and military communications.
The Starlink terminals are uniquely small, low-power, and easy to deploy ("plug-and-play"), making them effective for rapid setup in a conflict zone.
Despite their benefits, using Starlink terminals in a war zone carries risks, as their emitted signals could be detected and potentially targeted by enemy forces.
Experts caution private companies involved in conflicts to coordinate with government bodies to ensure their actions are safe, effective, and avoid unintended harm.

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Elon Musk’s SpaceX has sent Starlink terminals to the Ukrainian government in the midst of a Russian invasion—but how exactly does this help? FLYING spoke with Rose Croshier, a policy fellow at the Center for Global Development, about what effect Starlink will have on the Russia-provoked conflict.

Starlink, a project led by Elon Musk, is the owner of an ever-growing number of small satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO). The massive undertaking is made with the intent of providing high-speed internet access around the world.