European Union calls on Starlink to fully restore its services in Ukraine

Brussels, October 21 (KUNA) -- The European Union called on Tuesday on Elon Musk’s American billionaire-owned company SpaceX to urgently and fully restore its Starlink satellite communications services in Ukraine, warning of the repercussions of restrictions on these services on Ukraine’s defensive capabilities. European Commission spokesperson Thomas Renner said in a press statement that “recent reports indicating that Starlink has reduced its services in Ukraine are deeply concerning.” He added that “SpaceX must urgently restore full services in Ukraine, as Ukraine needs this vital information to keep its soldiers connected and protect its citizens, as well as to operate the drones necessary for defending its territory.” It is recalled that SpaceX has imposed restrictions on certain Starlink services used by Ukrainian forces since October 14, affecting the operation of drones and military communications. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for addressing the restrictions on the system, describing the decision as a major mistake that could lead to further casualties and warning of its impact on his country’s defensive capabilities, given the Ukrainian forces’ reliance on satellite communications to coordinate their field operations. (End) A.R.N. / A.M.H.