Stubb asks Musk to open Starlink over Russian missile launchers
Finnish President Alexander Stubb asked Elon Musk to let Ukraine use Starlink where Russian ballistic missile launchers sit, including occupied territory and Russia, The Straits Times and Yle reported from his Thursday comments in New York. He said Kyiv lacks air defences that can stop those missiles. Starlink does not work over Russian territory, and neither report says Musk has agreed.
Geopolitics··Evening
Stubb asks for Starlink over the launchers
Finnish President Alexander Stubb told Reuters in New York on Thursday that he asked Elon Musk to let Ukraine use Starlink where ballistic missile launchers sit, including occupied Ukrainian territory and Russia, The Straits Times reported. Yle reported the same Thursday plea: Stubb said he had pleaded with the SpaceX owner to expand Starlink satellite internet coverage for Ukraine so it can strike Russian ballistic missile launchers inside Russian territory.[1], [2]
The coverage stops at the Russian border
The Straits Times says Starlink does not work over Russian territory. Yle says the same: Starlink's satellite internet connections are not available to Ukraine in Russian territory. Stubb told Reuters, in the account The Straits Times carries, that the access would save lives and that Kyiv lacks air defences that can stop those missiles. Yle likewise reports that Ukraine is severely lacking the air defence systems needed to repel Russian ballistic missiles, and that officials in Kyiv argue coverage inside Russia would let them target the launchers at their source.[1], [2]
The ask names occupied land and Russia
Both reports place the request in New York on Thursday, during Stubb's week at the UN General Assembly. The Straits Times limits the quoted geography to occupied Ukrainian territory and Russia. Yle uses Stubb's own line that he wants Ukrainians to use Starlink in areas where there are ballistic missile launchers, either in occupied Ukraine or in Russia, for strategic purposes. Neither report says Musk has switched the coverage on. Stubb made the request on Thursday in New York during the UN General Assembly week, in comments to Reuters. Yle places the same plea on that day and in that city. Starlink links are not open to Ukraine over Russian territory. Neither report says Musk has switched the coverage on.[1], [2]
