Polish FM: Musk’s Starlink Makes Money from War Crimes
Warsaw says US satellite network is being used in Russian drone operations despite sanctions and Western assurances
Poland | PUREWILAYAH.COM — Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has accused Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service of profiting from war crimes, alleging that the US-owned system is being used by Russian forces to support drone strikes in Ukraine.
According to Anadolu, Sikorski made the accusation in a post published Tuesday on the X platform, stating that Starlink, operated by Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX, has become embedded in Russia’s battlefield infrastructure.
“Starlink, operated by Musk’s SpaceX, has become part of Russia’s battlefield infrastructure, despite Western sanctions and repeated assurances that the service would not be made available to Moscow,” Sikorski wrote.
Allegations of Direct Role in Military Operations
Sikorski explicitly accused the satellite network of generating profit from acts of war, saying that the system’s role in enabling Russian drone operations directly contributes to attacks on both civilian and military targets in Ukraine.
“Starlink is making money from war crimes,” he said.
The remarks represent one of the most direct accusations to date by a senior European official against a US technology company over its alleged involvement in an active war zone.
Renewed Clash With Elon Musk
The allegation has reignited a long-running public dispute between Sikorski and Musk over the role of private technology corporations in modern warfare and their responsibility for how their products are used.
Musk has previously dismissed criticism from Sikorski and other European officials. In a widely publicized exchange last year, the US billionaire referred to the Polish foreign minister as “a little man” after Sikorski questioned Starlink’s political influence and strategic accountability in the Ukraine war.
Starlink’s Role in the Ukraine War
Starlink has played a central role in Ukraine’s military communications since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, providing internet connectivity to Ukrainian forces after Russian strikes disrupted much of the country’s telecommunications infrastructure.
Ukrainian authorities have credited the system with helping maintain command, control, and coordination on the battlefield.
However, reports dating back to 2023 have suggested that Russian forces may have gained access to Starlink terminals, raising concerns among European officials about enforcement failures, corporate oversight, and the broader role of US private technology in global conflicts.
Sikorski’s comments underscore growing unease in Europe over the power of American tech corporations operating beyond effective state control—particularly when their platforms intersect with warfare, sanctions regimes, and alleged violations of international law. (PW)