African-American billionaire Elon Musk has threatened to pull free access to his Starlink satellite internet system from Ukraine after one of the country’s leaders told him to “f**k off” for urging peace in the region.
At the onset of the war, Musk’s Starlink company offered to boost Ukraine’s communication ability by providing free Internet access in the country. Now, Musk is reconsidering the offer as it becomes clear the Kiev based government is not interested in peace talks.
Musk wrote on Twitter that Space X “cannot fund the existing system indefinitely” and noted that the Starlink terminals in Ukraine “have data usage up to 100X greater than typical households. This is unreasonable,” he added, according to The Washington Post.
When Twitter users wondered if a Ukrainian official’s suggestion that Musk “f**k off” after he proposed a plan for peace may be playing a role, the billionaire seemed to confirm he’s following their suggestion.
“We’re just following his recommendation,” Musk wrote on Twitter, coyly adding a shrugging emoji.
We’re just following his recommendation 🤷♂️
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 14, 2022
Musk suggested a plan that would see the United Nations supervise a second round of independence referendums in the Donbass, the water supply to Crimea left sacrosanct, and Ukraine remaining a neutral country.
In response, Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Andrij Melnyk, told Musk to “f**k off” and suggested that Ukrainians will no longer buy products from Tesla.
Fuck off is my very diplomatic reply to you @elonmusk
— Andrij Melnyk (@MelnykAndrij) October 3, 2022
When asked about the cost of providing free Internet access to a country whose officials publicly tell him to “f**k off,” Musk revealed that the cost has likely exceeded $100 million.
“In addition to terminals, we have to create, launch, maintain & replenish satellites & ground stations & pay telcos for access to Internet via gateways,” explained Musk. “We’ve also had to defend against cyberattacks & jamming, which are getting harder.”
Musk then revealed that the “Burn is approaching ~$20M/month.”
If Starlink’s contribution has cost it around $15 million each month since the war began almost 8 months ago, then it would have cost Musk’s company around $120 million to date.
In addition to terminals, we have to create, launch, maintain & replenish satellites & ground stations & pay telcos for access to Internet via gateways.
We’ve also had to defend against cyberattacks & jamming, which are getting harder.
Burn is approaching ~$20M/month.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 14, 2022
Musk’s latest move comes as he continues to consider buying Twitter, though the federal government is apparently now investigating him over that planned buy.
It also comes after the White House, through Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, accused Musk of “spreading Russian propaganda” by angling for an end to the costly war.
Russia launched what it calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine on February 24 following a years long standoff over disputed territories in the eastern Donbass region. Moscow claims it launched the operation to protect ethnic Russians in the Donbass from Ukrainian state violence, while Kiev and its allies claim the attack was unprovoked.
Since then, Moscow says multiple territories it seized from Ukraine have voted to join the Russian Federation.
