Elon Musk, Polish FM Clash Over Starlink's Reliability In Ukraine, But Service To Kyiv Won't Be Cut Off Amid Russia War

A heated exchange unfolded online as tech billionaire Elon Musk and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski clashed over the reliability of Starlink’s service in Ukraine. 

Despite the war of words, Musk remains firm in his decision not to cut off Ukraine’s access to his satellite network, underscoring Starlink’s role in the country’s defense.

The controversy erupted when Sikorski hinted at exploring alternative satellite service providers, questioning whether Starlink could be trusted as a long-term solution. This statement came in response to Musk’s claim that the Ukrainian army’s “entire front line would collapse” without Starlink.

Musk Defends His Position, Rubio Backs Him Up

Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, fired back at critics, reminding them that Starlink remains the backbone of Ukraine’s military communications.

Addressing accusations that he has been lenient toward Russia, Musk pushed back with a bold statement, "I literally challenged Putin to one-on-one physical combat over Ukraine and my Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army. Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off."

"No one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink," Rubio asserted, crediting the satellite network for preventing a Russian victory.

Musk to Sikorski: ‘Be Quiet, Small Man’

As tensions escalated, Musk directly called out the Polish foreign minister, responding to Sikorski’s comments with an unusually sharp retort, "Be quiet, small man. You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink."

About half of the 42,000 (approx) Starlink satellites operating in Ukraine are reportedly funded by Poland.

Starlink To Remain Operational in Ukraine

Despite the fiery online exchanges, Musk later reaffirmed his commitment to keeping Starlink operational in Ukraine, regardless of his personal stance on the war.

"To be extremely clear, no matter how much I disagree with the Ukraine policy, Starlink will never turn off its terminals," Musk stated.

His stance remains critical as the Trump administration temporarily halts military aid to Ukraine and CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirms a pause in intelligence sharing.