Elon Musk's SpaceX stopping Ukraine military from using Starlink satellite internet for drones: reports

Elon Musk's company SpaceX has taken steps to restrict the Ukrainian military's ability to control drones using its Starlink satellite internet services, as per a Reuters report.

Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX president and COO, said that Starlink services were being provided to Ukraine for humanitarian purposes, and not to be weaponised.

She said that Ukrainians leveraged satellite internet connectivity in "ways that were unintentional and not part of any agreement". Shotwell said that the company was fine with Ukrainian military using Starlink for communications, but the intent was never to have it used for "offensive purposes".

Meanwhile, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought Western support for his country in surprise visits to Britain and France on 8 February 2023, pushing for fighter jets to battle Russian invaders in a dramatic speech to the UK Parliament, and then flying to Paris to meet the French and German leaders over dinner at the Elysee Palace.

The embattled leader's European tour and pleas for more advanced weapons came as Ukraine braces for an expected Russian offensive and hatches its own plans to retake land held by Moscow's forces. Western support has been key to Kyiv's surprisingly stiff defence, and the two sides are engaged in grinding battles.

(With AP inputs)

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