The war between Russia and Ukraine might look a lot different today if Elon musk hadn’t interfered last year. Did the SpaceX leader overstep his bounds? Here’s what happened.
All Eyes on Crimea
As Ukraine fought back against Russian invaders in 2022, one area of particular world interest was the Crimean Peninsula.
It Was the Key
Russia had seized control of the strategic Black Sea land mass from Ukraine back in 2014, and most experts agreed it could be the key to the war.
It Could End the War
If Ukraine could recapture Crimea, the thinking went, they could cut off Russian access to important port resources and quickly end the fighting.
Ukraine Had a Plan
So Ukraine military officials came up with a plan to accelerate their actions in Crimea.
Russian Navy Was Vulnerable
With the Russian naval fleet stationed in the waters near Crimea, they were an inviting target for submarines. But they also represented a significant threat to the lives of Ukrainian soldiers who might be on those subs.
Drones to the Rescue
The plan, then, was to use a fleet of submarine drones armed with explosives to launch a surprise attack that could disable the Russian ships in the area.
Musk Held the Key
And that’s where Elon Musk and his technology came in, says a new Musk biography from the pen of author Walter Isaacson.
Russia Killed Communications
Just before the war began, in February 2022, Russia jammed Ukraine’s communication systems.
That left them unable to carry out normal operations and desperate for help.
SpaceX Saved the Day
Musk agreed to supply Ukraine with millions of dollars worth of SpaceX satellite equipment to get them up and running again. It worked.
Ukraine Got Offensive
In fact, the Starlink system worked so well for Ukraine that they were able to start thinking about more than just defending their borders.
They started to think with a more offensive mindset.
Sub Attack!
Armed with a strong communication system and a growing expertise in the use of drone technology, Ukraine launched their underwater attack on Russian ships.
Musk Wasn’t at War
But Musk found out what was happening and immediately felt uneasy about the situation.
He wanted his satellite technology to be used for connecting people, not for waging war.
Russian Pearl Harbor
And, as Musk later told Isaacson, he feared the attack on Russian ships would be akin to Pearl Harbor and spark a global conflict.
A Fear of Nukes
Musk ordered his SpaceX engineers to switch off the network near Crimea.
The Drones Fizzled Out
With no way to communicate to command center or with each other, the armed submarine drones went off course and washed up on shore. No harm, no foul.
They Were Out of Line
Ukraine officials begged Musk to turn the network back on, but he thought they were overstepping their bounds by going on the offensive.
Starlink Not Built for War
And Musk didn’t want his technology to be used for war, especially not for helping to escalate the fighting to a global scale.
A Controversial Partnership
Musk’s involvement with Ukraine has always been controversial, even among members of his own companies.
Musk Was Done Paying
From the beginning, SpaceX provided equipment and support to Ukraine at no charge.
But in the aftermath of the sub incident, Musk told U.S. and Ukrainian officials he couldn’t foot the bill forever.
But He Had a Change of Heart
So the Pentagon arranged to pay SpaceX more than $100 million for continued support. But then Musk took to Twitter and reversed course.
The Public Turned on Him
Taking a lot of public flak for trying to pull out on Ukraine, Musk said he’d continue to pay.
SpaceX Took the Hit
But Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX, told Isaacson she wasn’t happy with that decision.
“The Pentagon had a $145 million check ready to hand to me, literally.”
They Finally Got Their Money
According to Isaacson, the U.S. and European countries eventually worked out a deal to pay for more SpaceX equipment.
Russia Took Notice
And so Musk’s importance to the war continues even today, a fact not lost on Russia.
Hackers Attacked Starlink
Just last week, U.S. officials accused Russian hackers of trying to disrupt battlefield communications by intercepting data from Starlink satellites.
Musk Can’t Back Away
Whether anyone likes it or not, it seems Musk will be a part of the war for the long haul.
This Business Put up a “No Gen Z’s Allowed” Sign, and the Gen Z’s Are Furious
A small business owner has gone viral on Twitter for posting a sign in his shop window berating Gen Z cashiers, claiming that he had to close because his cashiers quit as he didn’t let their boyfriends stand around with them all shift. This Business Put up a “No Gen Z’s Allowed” Sign, and the Gen Z’s Are Furious
President Biden Sniffs Child in an Incident That’s Been Branded “Quite Strange”
Criticism floods in as President Joe Biden’s recent interaction with a young girl at Helsinki Airport raises eyebrows and leaves many questioning his behavior and ability to lead. President Biden Sniffs Child in an Incident That’s Been Branded “Quite Strange”
Biden Is an “International Joke” – An Embarrassing Moment for an Octogenarian President?
Recently, a false claim has been making the rounds that Biden made embarrassing remarks about curing cancer. We dig into what was reported vs. what actually happened. Biden Is an “International Joke” – An Embarrassing Moment for an Octogenarian President?
Foreign Migrants Are OVERFLOWING in NYC – Who’s to Blame?
Migrants are being transported to cities across the nation, and there isn’t enough housing or shelter to hold everyone. Foreign Migrants Are OVERFLOWING in NYC – Who’s to Blame?
Florida Is Banning Transgender People From Schools: Trans Teachers and Students Are Now Back in the Closet, by Law
The Orange County Public Schools, one of the largest and most prominent school districts in Florida, recently made headlines with the issuance of new guidelines that have stirred significant controversy. Here’s the full story. Florida Is Banning Transgender People From Schools: Trans Teachers and Students Are Now Back in the Closet, by Law
The post Elon Musk Is a RUSSIAN COLLABORATOR – Read About How He Singlehandedly Ruined a Ukrainian Offensive That Could Have Helped End the War Months Ago first appeared on Career Step Up.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Valeriy Georgian. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: DailyBeast
