Starlink operates a constellation of more than 2,000 satellites that aim to provide internet access across the planet. AFP
Starlink operates a constellation of more than 2,000 satellites that aim to provide internet access across the planet. AFP
Starlink operates a constellation of more than 2,000 satellites that aim to provide internet access across the planet. AFP
Starlink operates a constellation of more than 2,000 satellites that aim to provide internet access across the planet. AFP

World

Elon Musk opens Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine after minister's plea

His company SpaceX is sending more terminals to the country

The National

February 27, 2022

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Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine

Billionaire Elon Musk said on Saturday his company SpaceX has activated the Starlink satellite broadband service in Ukraine, after a plea from Kiev to provide the embattled country with stations.

SpaceX is sending more terminals to the country, whose internet has been disrupted because of continuing military attacks by Russia.

"Starlink service is now active in Ukraine," Mr Musk tweeted, adding "more terminals en route."

The tweet came about 10 hours after Ukrainian Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov urged Musk to provide Starlink services to Ukraine, days after it was attacked by neighbouring Russia.

"While you try to colonise Mars ― Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space ― Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations," Mr Fedorov tweeted at Musk.

He also called on the billionaire "to address sane Russians to stand" against their government's actions.

Elon Musk. AP
Elon Musk. AP

Internet monitor NetBlocks said Ukraine had been experiencing "significant disruptions to internet service" since Thursday, when Russia launched military operations in the country, AFP reported.

Connectivity has been affected, particularly in the southern and eastern parts of the country where fighting has been heaviest, Reuters reported.

Starlink operates a constellation of more than 2,000 satellites that aim to provide internet access across the planet.

The company on Friday launched a further 50 Starlink satellites and many more are slated to be put into Earth's orbit.

Russia-Ukraine latest - in pictures

Ukrainian fighters test an automatic grenade launcher taken from a destroyed Russian infantry vehicle in Kharkiv. AFP
Ukrainian fighters test an automatic grenade launcher taken from a destroyed Russian infantry vehicle in Kharkiv. AFP
Refugees from Ukraine rest after arriving at a railway station in Przemysl, Poland. AP
Refugees from Ukraine rest after arriving at a railway station in Przemysl, Poland. AP
People walk down 17th June Street in Berlin before a rally against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. AP
People walk down 17th June Street in Berlin before a rally against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. AP
Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kiev and former heavyweight boxing champion, right, and his brother, Wladimir. AP
Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kiev and former heavyweight boxing champion, right, and his brother, Wladimir. AP
Khreshchatyk, Kiev’s main street, lies empty as a curfew comes into effect. AP
Khreshchatyk, Kiev’s main street, lies empty as a curfew comes into effect. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the nation from Kiev. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the nation from Kiev. AP
On February 27, the seventh anniversary of the assassination of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, a note stating ‘No to war!’ is placed among flowers on the central Moscow bridge on which he was shot. AFP
On February 27, the seventh anniversary of the assassination of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, a note stating ‘No to war!’ is placed among flowers on the central Moscow bridge on which he was shot. AFP
A member of the Ukrainian forces, wearing the Guy Fawkes mask popularised by Anonymous, patrols central Kiev. AFP
A member of the Ukrainian forces, wearing the Guy Fawkes mask popularised by Anonymous, patrols central Kiev. AFP
Sviatoslav Yurash, 26, a politician from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party, poses with his assault rifle as he patrols Kiev. AFP
Sviatoslav Yurash, 26, a politician from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party, poses with his assault rifle as he patrols Kiev. AFP
A Ukrainian serviceman and his dog look at smoke from a burning fuel storage depot after a Russian missile attack near Kiev. EPA
A Ukrainian serviceman and his dog look at smoke from a burning fuel storage depot after a Russian missile attack near Kiev. EPA
A refugee who fled conflict in Ukraine rests at a railway station after arriving in Zahony, Hungary. AP
A refugee who fled conflict in Ukraine rests at a railway station after arriving in Zahony, Hungary. AP
A refugee boy who fled Ukraine cries at the railway station in Zahony, Hungary. AP
A refugee boy who fled Ukraine cries at the railway station in Zahony, Hungary. AP
Civil defence members eat during a break at City Hall in Kiev. AP
Civil defence members eat during a break at City Hall in Kiev. AP
An Indian student is embraced by his family at Chennai Airport after returning from Ukraine. EPA
An Indian student is embraced by his family at Chennai Airport after returning from Ukraine. EPA
Smoke is seen rising from behind buildings following bombings in Kiev. Getty
Smoke is seen rising from behind buildings following bombings in Kiev. Getty
An armed civil defence woman holds a Kalashnikov assault rifle while patrolling an empty street in Kiev. AP
An armed civil defence woman holds a Kalashnikov assault rifle while patrolling an empty street in Kiev. AP
A woman fleeing from Ukraine cries as she waits to be taken to a shelter in Zahony, Hungary. Reuters
A woman fleeing from Ukraine cries as she waits to be taken to a shelter in Zahony, Hungary. Reuters
Ukrainian refugees cross the Romanian border at Siret, northern Romania. EPA
Ukrainian refugees cross the Romanian border at Siret, northern Romania. EPA
A residential building damaged by shelling in Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine. AFP
A residential building damaged by shelling in Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine. AFP
Apartments damaged by shelling in Kharkiv. AFP
Apartments damaged by shelling in Kharkiv. AFP
A girl protests against Russia's military operation in Ukraine, in front of the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv. AFP
A girl protests against Russia's military operation in Ukraine, in front of the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv. AFP
Young women protest in Tbilisi, Georgia with their hands painted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Getty
Young women protest in Tbilisi, Georgia with their hands painted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Getty
Supplies for Ukrainian refugees at one of three camps set up at the MoldExpo exhibition center, in Chisinau, Moldova. EPA
Supplies for Ukrainian refugees at one of three camps set up at the MoldExpo exhibition center, in Chisinau, Moldova. EPA
Police detain a demonstrator during a protest against Russia's incursion into Ukraine in St Petersburg. AP
Police detain a demonstrator during a protest against Russia's incursion into Ukraine in St Petersburg. AP
A man waits at a bus stop in St Petersburg, which has been with a painted in the colours of Ukraine's national flag. EPA
A man waits at a bus stop in St Petersburg, which has been with a painted in the colours of Ukraine's national flag. EPA
Russian ground forces approaching Nova Kakhovka, southern Ukraine. AP
Russian ground forces approaching Nova Kakhovka, southern Ukraine. AP
A woman holds her daughter's hand as they arrive by bus from the Polish-Ukrainian border. Getty
A woman holds her daughter's hand as they arrive by bus from the Polish-Ukrainian border. Getty
A man drives his car full of food supplies to deliver to the Ukrainian side of the border, where thousands wait to enter Poland. Getty
A man drives his car full of food supplies to deliver to the Ukrainian side of the border, where thousands wait to enter Poland. Getty
Refugees arrive with buses from the Medyka pedestrian border crossing, in Przemsyl, eastern Poland. AFP
Refugees arrive with buses from the Medyka pedestrian border crossing, in Przemsyl, eastern Poland. AFP
People gather to catch a train and leave Ukraine for neighboring countries at the railway station in Lviv, western Ukraine. AP
People gather to catch a train and leave Ukraine for neighboring countries at the railway station in Lviv, western Ukraine. AP
Cars form a line that stretches 35 kilometres from the Shehyni border crossing to Poland as people try to flee Russia's military operation against Ukraine. Reuters
Cars form a line that stretches 35 kilometres from the Shehyni border crossing to Poland as people try to flee Russia's military operation against Ukraine. Reuters
Helena, right, and her brother Bodia, left, from Lviv, wait at the Medyka border crossing in eastern Poland. AFP
Helena, right, and her brother Bodia, left, from Lviv, wait at the Medyka border crossing in eastern Poland. AFP
A Ukrainian soldier walks past debris of a burning military truck, on a street in Kiev. AP
A Ukrainian soldier walks past debris of a burning military truck, on a street in Kiev. AP
People run for cover during the shelling on the city of Kiev. AP
People run for cover during the shelling on the city of Kiev. AP
A child refugee who fled the conflict in Ukraine covers her face in the event hall of a hotel offering shelter in Siret, Romania. AP
A child refugee who fled the conflict in Ukraine covers her face in the event hall of a hotel offering shelter in Siret, Romania. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holding a briefing in Kyiv. He said that Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan have suggested talks with Russia, which 'can only be welcomed'. AFP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holding a briefing in Kyiv. He said that Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan have suggested talks with Russia, which 'can only be welcomed'. AFP
Ukraine's ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, at a news conference in the embassy of Ukraine, Washington. AP
Ukraine's ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, at a news conference in the embassy of Ukraine, Washington. AP
Manchester City footballers wear t-shirts in support of Ukraine before a match. Reuters
Manchester City footballers wear t-shirts in support of Ukraine before a match. Reuters
Ukrainian refugees arrive in Warsaw by train from Kiev. EPA
Ukrainian refugees arrive in Warsaw by train from Kiev. EPA
A woman waves a Ukrainian flag during a rally in Times Square, New York City. AFP
A woman waves a Ukrainian flag during a rally in Times Square, New York City. AFP
A man sits next to his dogs in an underground car park turned into a bomb shelter during an air raid alert in Kiev. AP
A man sits next to his dogs in an underground car park turned into a bomb shelter during an air raid alert in Kiev. AP
A woman sleeps on chairs in a Kiev bomb shelter. AP
A woman sleeps on chairs in a Kiev bomb shelter. AP
A satellite image with overlaid graphics shows military vehicles alongside the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Reuters
A satellite image with overlaid graphics shows military vehicles alongside the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Reuters
A satellite image shows the effects of shelling in open fields along Soborna Street in the north-east suburbs of Kharkiv. Reuters
A satellite image shows the effects of shelling in open fields along Soborna Street in the north-east suburbs of Kharkiv. Reuters
A big fire at a petroleum storage depot after a Russian missile attack, in Vasylkiv, near Kiev. EPA
A big fire at a petroleum storage depot after a Russian missile attack, in Vasylkiv, near Kiev. EPA
Ukrainian servicemen take positions at a military airbase in the Kyiv region. Reuters
Ukrainian servicemen take positions at a military airbase in the Kyiv region. Reuters
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Price, base / as tested Dh100,000 (estimate)

Engine 2.4L four-cylinder 

Gearbox Nine-speed automatic 

Power 184bhp at 6,400rpm

Torque 237Nm at 3,900rpm

Fuel economy, combined 9.4L/100km

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Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.

We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice. 

Updated: February 27, 2022, 5:45 AM
RussiaUkraineEuropeElon Musk