On 25 October, American billionaire Elon Musk made scathing remarks directed at those who oppose his stance on Russia’s war against Ukraine. On the social media platform X, he called them «scum of humanity», accusing them of seeking to prolong the hostilities at the cost of Ukrainian lives. Musk also stated that the policy he supports is in the interests of the Ukrainian people. The remarks came against the backdrop of a debate over American attitudes towards Ukraine and recent restrictions on the operation of the Starlink satellite communication system.
- Elon Musk has sharply criticised those who oppose his stance on the war in Ukraine.
- The billionaire stated that the policies he supports are in the interests of the Ukrainian people.
- The trigger was a discussion about American voters’ attitudes towards Ukraine and Russia.
- The day before, Musk admitted that SpaceX had restricted Starlink’s operations in Ukraine.
- On 24 October, Ukraine reported that Starlink and Starshield speeds had returned to normal.
What exactly did Elon Musk say about the war in Ukraine?
25 October: the owner of SpaceX and Tesla Elon Musk posted an emotional comment on social media X, in response to a post by an American political commentator John Hawkins.
Hawkins spoke out in defence of the businessman, stating that Starlink helped Ukraine to resist the Russian invasion, and the criticism levelled at Musk for his efforts to prevent further loss of life is unfair.
In response, Musk sharply criticised the journalist Josh Kraushaar, who had previously published an article on public opinion in the US.
The billionaire stated that the policies he supports are in the interests of Ukrainians, and accused his opponents of wanting to continue the war until the last Ukrainian man had fallen on the battlefield. At the end of his post, Musk described such people as «the absolute scum of humanity».
The post contained offensive remarks directed at critics. At the same time, Musk’s claims regarding their intentions are his personal assessment, not an established fact.
What a survey on support for Ukraine in the US revealed
The dispute was sparked by an article by journalist Josh Kraushaar on American voters’ attitudes towards Ukraine and Russia.
According to the findings of an Economist/YouGov survey published on 22 October, 66% registered US voters said they sympathise more with Ukraine in the war with Russia. 3% sympathise with the Russian side, whilst a further 24% do not support either side.
At the same time, attitudes towards Ukraine and a willingness to support it militarily are two different matters.
In particular, amongst MAGA supporters registered as Republican voters, 26% were in favour of continuing to provide US military aid to Ukraine. In July, this figure stood at 45%.
Among all registered voters in the US 46% support the continuation of military aid, whilst 34% are opposed.
Why did Musk’s statement come amidst the controversy surrounding Starlink?
The entrepreneur’s comment came shortly after the controversy surrounding the operation of the Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine.
On 24 October, Musk acknowledged that SpaceX had imposed restrictions on the use of the Starlink civilian service.
According to him, the Ukrainian military breached the terms of use of the network by using it to launch offensive drone strikes. Musk stated that the relevant technical capability had been blocked.
At the same time, he stressed that Starshield — a separate military satellite communications system, the decision on the use of which, he claims, is taken by the US Government.
The restrictions have caused concern amongst the Ukrainian military, as satellite communications are used to control unmanned aerial vehicles, manage logistics and facilitate communication on the front line.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy On 24 October, it was announced that Starlink and Starshield had returned to their previous speeds.
He thanked his American partners, in particular representatives of Congress, the State Department and US President Donald Trump, for their assistance in resolving the issue.
What role does Starlink play in Ukraine’s defence?
Ukraine has been using the Starlink satellite system since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.
Thanks to satellite terminals, military and civilian services have been able to maintain communications in areas where traditional telecommunications infrastructure has been destroyed or damaged.
Musk has repeatedly emphasised that SpaceX has played a vital role in ensuring communications in Ukraine.
However, recent restrictions have highlighted the dependence of certain military functions on the availability of satellite services and the decisions of their operators.
As of 25 October, the following has been confirmed resumption of operations relevant services at the previous speeds. At the same time, Musk’s public statements regarding permissible uses of the civilian Starlink network indicate that differences of opinion persist regarding its use in military operations.
The entrepreneur’s latest statement regarding his critics formed part of this wider debate, but was not accompanied by any announcement of further technical changes to Starlink’s operations.
