Ukraine gets Elon Musk's Starlink satellite terminals - and a friendly warning about safety

A cargo of Starlink terminals has arrived in Ukraine after the nation's digital transformation minister requested SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for assist

"Starlink — right here. Thanks, @elonmusk," Ukrainian minister Mykhailo Fedorov tweeted alongside a picture of the again of a lorry loaded with terminals.

Musk tweeted again, "You might be most welcome".

The terminals seem like dwelling satellite tv for pc tv dishes and may present comparatively quick web service, by residential requirements, by connecting to a fleet of satellites in low orbit.

widget--size-fullwidth
widget--align-center">

Starlink — right here. Thanks, @elonmuskpic.twitter.com/dZbaYqWYCf

— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 28, 2022

However John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher on the College of Toronto's Citizen Lab venture, took to Twitter to warn the terminals might develop into Russian targets.

"Re: @elonmusk's starlink donation. Good to see. However keep in mind: if #Putin controls the air above Ukraine, customers' uplink transmissions develop into beacons ... for airstrikes," he tweeted.

"Russia has a long time of expertise hitting individuals by focusing on their satellite tv for pc communications," he added in a collection of 15 tweets detailing the dangers.

The danger is that satellite tv for pc transmissions from the bottom in Ukraine could possibly be triangulated and focused by the Russian army, which has beforehand used the method to lethal impact in Chechnya and Syria, Scott-Railton mentioned.

widget--size-fullwidth
widget--align-center">

14/ Connectivity in #Ukraine is important.

Now that Starlink gadgets are headed into an lively battle zone, although, *doable* dangers are about to get battle examined.

I hope that OPSEC is entrance of thoughts as choices are made about terminal distribution, use & placement,

— John Scott-Railton (@jsrailton) February 28, 2022

"Early in a battle with disrupted web, satellite tv for pc web seems like a saviour. Nevertheless it rapidly introduces very actual, lethal new vulnerabilities," he mentioned.

"Should you do not perceive them, individuals die needlessly till they study & adapt. This has occurred once more. And once more," he continued.

Musk mentioned on Saturday that Starlink is out there in Ukraine and SpaceX is sending extra terminals to the nation, whose web has been disrupted as a result of Russian invasion.

Fedorov thanked Ukraine’s ambassador to america for serving to to swiftly approve the activation of Starlink in Ukraine.

One of many challenges is to put in end-user terminals, which require a transparent view of the sky to connect with Starlink, Tim Farrar, a guide in satellite tv for pc communications mentioned.

As high-rise buildings can block the service, one has to go to the highest of the very best constructing close by to arrange the antenna, he mentioned. "That is a reasonably susceptible place to be."

"It's not going to be one thing that may provide a substitute for terrestrial web on a big scale," he mentioned.

SpaceX didn't instantly reply to a Reuters request for remark.