A key part of the current war, perhaps even for the first time ever, is cyber warfare. The Ukrainian government has appealed to hacking groups, collectives and individuals to attack infrastructure in Russia and Belarus, as part of the ‘IT Army’, in an effort to level the playing field. A key part of this effort is maintaining the communications infrastructure. Towards this goal, the Ukrainian Minister for Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, reached out to Elon Musk, asking for Starlink connectivity and hardware to be made available in Ukraine.

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation created by Musk’s company SpaceX, utilising a system of multiple satellites and receivers to provide high-speed satellite internet. In this manner, even if the traditional cable internet infrastructure is destroyed or limited by the invading forces, the internet will still be available, at the very least for crucial and key needs. As a downside, its use can be detected, both through the receiver's heat signature as well as its beam signal, making the stealth and careful use essential for the project’s success and the safety of its users. 

The initial contact took place on the 27th of February, with Musk responding in the affirmative hours later. The next night, the first batch of terminals had arrived, adding a new weapon to the Ukrainian arsenal, that of a decentralised communications system. As of the morning of the 2nd of March, the hardware has been deployed, with the pair brainstorming on how to most efficiently use the system while avoiding detection. It remains unclear whether the hardware had time to be deployed in besieged cities, especially amid reports of communications being cut in Sumy, Mariupol and others.