House Democrats are seizing on allegations that Russia is using Elon Musk’s Starlink Internet service on the battlefield in Ukraine, claiming it is a national security issue.
Starlink does not authorize its use in Russia. However, Russians are reportedly attempting to sidestep that by going to third parties to get the service. The company is tracking the usage of its service and shutting down those who should not have access to it. It should be noted that Musk provided Starlink specifically to the Ukrainians to help them in the conflict. The Left has now twisted that to go after the billionaire.
Starlink and SpaceX are also vital to the national security interests of the United States as both are used by our military. But in the Left’s hatred for Musk, they are seeking any foothold they can get to bring him down. Now, they are throwing the Russia card and investigating allegations Russia is using Starlink against Ukraine.
“Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) sent a letter Wednesday night demanding that the company report complaints about potential illegal acquisitions of Starlink terminals, including in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. The lawmakers said they were alarmed by Ukrainian intelligence officials’ allegations that Russian forces deployed the company’s terminals in eastern Ukraine, potentially running afoul of U.S. sanctions,” the Washington Post reported.
(Video Credit: The Wall Street Journal)
“The lawmakers warned SpaceX’s president, Gwynne Shotwell, that Russia’s alleged use of Starlink ‘poses a serious threat to Ukraine’s security, Ukrainian lives, and U.S. national security,’” the media outlet added.
“We are concerned that you may not have appropriate guardrails and policies in place,” Raskin and Garcia stated.
“Raskin, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, and Garcia, the top Democrat on the national security subcommittee, said this alleged widespread use of the Starlink systems raises ‘additional questions about the efficacy of your company’s safeguards and compliance with U.S. sanctions and export controls,’” the Washington Post wrote.
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief publicly charged in February that Russian troops in Ukraine were using thousands of Starlink satellite communications terminals, according to the Daily Mail.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS BELIEVE UKRAINE’S CLAIMS OVER ELON
Lawmakers reportedly believed Ukrainian claims that Starlink is being used by Russians, despite @elonmusk clearly stating:
“A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia. This is… pic.twitter.com/3kQ8B3GpWN
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 7, 2024
“Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov’s comments in an interview suggest that Russia is starting to acquire Starlink terminals, made by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, at a scale that could cut into a major Ukrainian battlefield advantage. Ukraine’s government said last year that around 42,000 terminals are used by the military, hospitals, businesses, and aid organizations,” the Wall Street Journal reported.
The media outlet said that Budanov claimed that Russian troops have been communicating using Starlink “for quite a long time.” He went on to state that they acquired the terminals from private Russian firms who bought them from intermediaries. The terminals are then delivered to Russia via neighboring countries.
That is something beyond Starlink’s control, but the company is allegedly working on locating the terminals and shutting them down.
“Budanov’s agency also told Reuters that Russian troops were communicating over Starlink on their front lines, but did not disclose the extent to which the terminals were in use,” the Daily Mail wrote.
Now they’re going after Elon again. SpaceX, Starlink and Russia’s use of it. pic.twitter.com/xxeZegRzPs
— Sheri @FFT4DJT (@FFT4DJT) March 7, 2024
Starlink is adamant that it does not do business in or with Russia.
“Retired British Army Brigadier Ben Barry told Reuters that if Russian forces are using Starlink, their communications would be more secure and harder for Ukraine and its allies to crack,” the Daily Mail said. “The Kremlin has denied using Starlink on the battlefield, saying the terminals are not approved for use by the Russian military.”
Musk also made it clear that the company is not doing business with Russia, “A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia. This is categorically false. To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia.”
A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia.
This is categorically false.
To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 11, 2024
Click this link for the original source of this article.
Author: Terresa Monroe-Hamilton
This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://americanwirenews.com and its author. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu.