Crew 5 from SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket pad-39A with Dragon capsule. launched on
The United States on Thursday warned Russia of consequences if it attacks satellites used for communications.
“Any attack on our infrastructure will be met with an appropriate response from our side. If those attacks happen, we will do everything we can to expose, stop and hold Russia accountable,” White House spokesman John Kirby warned at a press conference.
Thus Kirby was responding on Wednesday to threats made by senior Russian official Konstantin Vorontsov, who said satellites from the United States and its allies could become a military target for Russia if they engage in war in Ukraine.
Vorontsov, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of Non-Proliferation and Arms Control, told a UN meeting that Russia had detected an “extremely dangerous trend” with Western satellites, including the US helping Ukraine.
He then said that these satellites, which could be used to facilitate communications between soldiers on the battlefield, could become a “legitimate” military objective if it was proved that they were helping Ukraine.
Vorontsov told the UN First Committee that “civilian infrastructure may be a legitimate target for a retaliatory strike,” adding that the West’s use of such satellites to support Ukraine is “provocative.”
“We are talking about the involvement of components of civilian space infrastructure, including commercial ones, in armed conflicts by the United States and its allies,” Vorontsov told the United Nations.
Vorontsov did not mention any specific satellite company, although Elon Musk said earlier this month that his rocket company SpaceX would continue to fund its Starlink internet service in Ukraine, citing the need for “good deeds”.
Starlink’s role
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Musk has been providing Starlink satellite service terminals in an effort to ease the lack of internet service caused by Russian bombings.
On Monday, the Ukrainian government assured that a preliminary agreement with tycoon Elon Musk on Internet connection services via satellites provided that they would continue to function regardless of their funding.
“Before all talks about funding, you confirmed to me that under no circumstances will you guarantee Starlinks operations in Ukraine,” Ukrainian Minister of Digital Transformation Mikhailo Fedorov wrote on Twitter. “This was of vital importance to Ukraine. We are grateful to you,” he added in response to a message from Musk, in which the SpaceX founder said he would not stop the service, even though the US government refused to cover the bill. Give.
On October 14, the Pentagon confirmed that it is in contact with SpaceX regarding a question of funding the said service, which the company says will cost more than $120 million by the end of the year. The US Defense Department then said it understood the “fragility” of Ukraine’s communications system and was evaluating “options” to ensure it continues to function.
According to the American series CNN, SpaceX asked the Pentagon to consider financing the shipment of terminals to Ukraine or else, the free donations made so far may soon expire.
