Starlink is a system that provides internet through low-orbital satellites, created by the founder of SpaceX, Elon Musk. Starlink claims it is the fastest available form of internet, as it sends signals through space instead of cabling; it consists of multiple satellites in a low orbit, which make it even faster. The company provides its services to most countries around the world, and once the invasion began, Elon donated thousands of starlink terminals to Ukraine. Currently, there are over 5,000 terminals in the country, with more on the way everyday. With the invasion, internet signals in Ukraine became overloaded, but the Starlink stations have ensured reliable and fast access to the internet, allowing citizens in Ukraine to keep up to date on the location of Russian forces and general news. 

The stations have been successful, being used at hospitals, military camps, and houses; so far the Russian military has yet to target areas with the dishes, and it is likely they will not, given how small the dishes are. Despite not attacking the dishes, they have attempted to hack them, but have failed. Director of Electronic Warfare for the Office of the Secretary of Defense said that Starlink’s countermeasures acted faster than the U.S. would have been able to. Cyber security experts have said that the dishes Starlink uses are too visible, warning that the Russian military may start targeting them. To counter this, users of Starlink have been told by Musk that they should camouflage the dishes, keep them away from people, and only use them when needed, to ensure they are not always visible. Despite possibly being dangerous to those who are using the dishes, the people of Ukraine need access to the internet, so the steps should be followed to minimize risk and allow access to the internet.

Alongside the terminals donated by Starlink and Musk, over 1,000 terminals were purchased by the U.S. Agency for International Development and sent to Ukraine. According to Mykhailo Fedorov, the Vice Prime Minister, one Starlink dish restored the internet for five villages. Starlink is a temporary solution for the lack of internet access. It will be unable to provide internet for all of Ukraine, as cables are being destroyed when Russian forces push and pull back. However, for now it will be what helps keep Ukraine connected to the rest of the world.