Poland says it may need alternative to Musk's Starlink in Ukraine

A Ukrainian serviceman of 47th brigade prepares a Starlink satellite internet systems at his positions at a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the town of Avdiivka, recently captured by Russian troops in Donetsk region, Ukraine Feb 20, 2024. REUTERS/Inna Varenytsia

Poland, which pays for Ukraine's Starlink internet services, may seek an alternative if Elon Musk's company proves to be "unreliable", the foreign minister said on Sunday after the billionaire speculated about turning off access to the system.

Starlink provides crucial internet connectivity to Ukraine and its military. US negotiators pressing Kyiv for access to Ukraine's critical minerals have raised the possibility of cutting the country's access to the service, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters in February.

Musk, a high-profile figure in the administration of US President Donald Trump, said in a post on his X social media platform on Sunday, that Ukraine's "entire front line would collapse if I turned it (Starlink) off".

He said he was "sickened by ... years of slaughter in a stalemate that Ukraine will inevitably lose".

The US government has already revoked some access to satellite imagery for Ukraine and paused intelligence sharing, piling pressure on Kyiv as Trump seeks a swift end to the war, now in its fourth year after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

"Starlinks for Ukraine are paid for by the Polish Digitization Ministry at the cost of about $50 million per year," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski wrote on X.

"The ethics of threatening the victim of aggression apart, if SpaceX proves to be an unreliable provider we will be forced to look for other suppliers."

Starlink's parent company SpaceX did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment outside normal business hours.

Shares in Franco-British satellite operator EutelsatETL.PA soared as much as 650% during the week ending Mar 7, due to speculation the company could replace Starlink in providing internet access to Ukraine.

The shares pulled back on Friday to end the week up around 380%.

Poland said in February that it would continue to cover Ukraine's Starlink subscription despite sources saying the US could consider cutting it.