Cyber alliance thrives

Warsaw donates 20,000 Starlink terminals to Kiev

SpaceX had provided Kiev with thousands of Starlink terminals after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in order to ensure the internet supply.(Bild: APA/AFP/Yasuyoshi CHIBA)

Poland has confirmed the financing of 20,000 Starlink satellite terminals used in Ukraine. The technology from US high-tech billionaire Elon Musk's company SpaceX, which was paid for by Poland, supports the internet supply of the Ukrainian army as well as hospitals, said the Polish Minister for Digitalization, Krzysztof Gawkowski, during a visit to Kiev on Monday.

Gawkowski and his Ukrainian counterpart Mykhailo Fedorov signed an agreement on closer cooperation in cyber security. "We agree that the Russian threats against Poland and Ukraine in the cyber area are very similar. Poland is waging a cold cyber war with Russia," said Gawkowski. Fedorov had already confirmed in January that Poland was the largest supplier of satellite technology, with 7900 Starlink terminals provided at the time.

Starlink is a satellite network operated by SpaceX that enables access to the internet in very remote regions where the communications infrastructure no longer works. SpaceX provided Kiev with thousands of Starlink terminals after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine to ensure internet coverage in the country.

Kiev was very grateful for this. However, the relationship with Musk was clouded by his statement that Ukraine should cede territories to Russia in order to end the war.