Poland has stepped up to cover all costs associated with Ukraine’s use of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite communication system, according to a disclosure made by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski during a press conference. This move comes as a response to billionaire Elon Musk’s claim that his company’s network was being targeted by Moscow and that the service was not being paid for by anyone.
The Starlink system, operated by SpaceX, has played a crucial role in ensuring Kiev’s troops and officials have access to the internet during the ongoing conflict with Russia. In addition to providing vital communication links, the satellite network has been instrumental in withstanding attempts by Moscow to disrupt its network. Musk began shipping Starlink ground equipment in the early stages of the war but later expressed frustration that no one was paying for the service. The Pentagon ultimately took on the financial responsibility for the project.
During the press conference, Sikorski made it clear that the funding for Ukraine’s use of Starlink modules would come exclusively from Poland. This is part of a broader package of practical support being offered by the Polish government to Kiev in its ongoing war against Russia, as outlined by Foreign Minister Sikorski ahead of an international meeting involving President Andrzej Duda and other leaders providing military assistance to Ukraine.
The event where President Duda was expected to participate has since been postponed, following the decision by US President Joe Biden to cancel his trip to Europe in order to focus on dealing with Hurricane Milton. In May of this year, Warsaw committed to funding Kiev’s operation of over 20,000 Starlink terminals. At that time, Minister of Digitization Krzysztof Gawkowski referred to the devices as “one of the building blocks” for online connectivity in Ukraine, describing the situation as a “cyber cold war with Russia.
Poland has been among the most vocal supporters of backing Kiev in its struggle against Moscow, with Polish officials calling for continued support until the conflict is resolved. However, this support has not always been met with gratitude from Ukrainian officials, particularly following Musk’s public expressions of skepticism about Kiev’s military strategy and his call for peace talks with Russia. In October 2022, then-Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andrey Melnik told the billionaire to “f**k off” after he suggested that UN-supervised referendums could be held in former Ukrainian regions.