In September 2022, Ukraine's first attempt to send USV marine drones against Russian vessels in Sevastopol Bay faced a setback when communication using Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system was lost, approximately 70 kilometers from the target, according to a report in Ukrainska Pravda (UP).
The operation involved the deployment of marine drone prototypes against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet vessel, the Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate Admiral Makarov, based in Sevastopol.
Some encountered technical issues, which led to them either sinking or self-destructing en-route. However, five drones, each carrying 108 kilograms of TNT, successfully traversed the waves, approached Sevastopol and were heading towards the vessel.
The progress of the deployed drones was being closely monitored from a protected bunker by key Ukrainian officials, including Vasyl Malyuk, the Chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vice Admiral Olexiy Neizhpapa, Commander of the Naval Forces, Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Fedorov, and Brigadier General “Ha,” the brains behind the USV program.
“We had 70 kilometers left to reach the frigate Admiral Makarov. Everyone is in suspense as we are attacking it. And then the connection is cut off. Elon Musk excluded the Starlinks through which we controlled the drones,” one participant in the operation told UP.
Efforts were made to bring the drones back to the base, but only two successfully returned. The mission may have apparently failed but the returning craft provided invaluable data about communication, navigation, and hull performance.
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Mikhailo Fedorov attempted to persuade Musk to reconnect, but the plea fell on deaf ears.
The aftermath of this incident saw the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and the Navy leveraging a dedicated military laboratory to study, analyze, and improve the drones’ technology.
By October 2022, just a month after the failed attempt, Ukrainian forces successfully hit Russian targets in the port of Sevastopol, demonstrating their adaptability in the face of technical challenges.
The revelation of Musk's involvement came to light in September 2023. Then CNN reported that the head of SpaceX secretly ordered his engineers to disable the Starlink satellite communications network off the Crimean coast last year in order to disrupt Ukrainian attacks on the Russian Navy.
Musk defended his position, asserting that Starlink “had never been activated in the relevant regions. Therefore, they couldn't have been deactivated.”
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Comments (5)
Musk must be a Putin lover
In an alternative world, Elon Musk did not provide Starlink to Ukraine. As a result, Kyiv Post has changed its name to Kiev Post. And you are doing propaganda for Putin and writing articles praising Musk now.
Musk and starlink is doing a sterling job.. from the start. Forget about the article about Crimea. Drop in the ocean. Musk is not a commie. Hes dad is not a racist. They did not made trillions from mines in South Africa. Get your ducks in a row. Starlink cost him plenty everday for Ukraine . Out of his own pocket. Now the Pentagon is paying.
@Peterpan, Musk had the audacity to buy Twitter and expose the Deep State’s interference in COVID and the 2020 and 2022 election. Now the Deep State must make him pay and make an example of him.
musk is a communist russian loving piece of filth. He did not just order Starlink to be turned off...he had the system turned off on putin's birthday.
Ukraine defends itself and he claims escalation...russia has done nothing but escalation and he remains silent.
musk MAY have been promised exclusive rights to items such as aluminum and lithium in Eastern Ukraine for his commie clown cars. musk claims he allowed Starlink in Ukraine to be used to "watch netflix, learn, and chill." Who the hell watches netflix and chills in a nation at war?
Let's not forget this is the same musk who inherited blood money from his racist father who owned and operated minds in South Africa and exploited Africans. musk must remove himself and his garbage Starlink, which I said from day one would be used as a trojan horse against Ukraine, out of my nation and keep his uneducated opinions of "truce" to himself. musk describes how he had a conversation with a russian official warning of a nuclear response in Crimea YET musk seems to think a "truce" is possible with the same people threatening nuclear annihilation of the world every other week. musk clearly suffers from dunning kruger.
Why bring up an old event that was clarified long ago? Musk provides Starlink to Ukraine and many other areas that never had Internet service. Musk has done great programs for humanity. Musk is a hero to most Americans except for radical woke leftist (dare I say Bolsheviks). Is Kyiv Post parroting Biden hate for Musk? Kyiv Post should not get engaged in U.S. politics. Doing so will hurt Ukraine.
@American Chris, "American" like in the TV show about Russian spies...clearly you are Ruzbot sent to make Jack Griffin feel like at least one American agrees with him. Elon is rich retard who that only a fool would listen to.
@American Chris, Musk is hero? why not call him Jesus? Sure Musk is a hero, like your an "American"