Background
Private companies determine the destiny of a nation in contemporary world politics; the conflict is no longer restricted to land and sea; it has been driven into the space by employing private satellites, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. The shutdown of the internet after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was backed up by Starlink for civilians and the military. Starlink is being used as an integral part of the working of Ukrainian drones that attack Russian tanks. Russians have accused Starlink of contributing to an international war without prior authorization by the US government. Private satellites have reshaped communication in war zones, raising concerns about unrestrained influence over military power and ethical and geopolitical questions.
Role of Starlink
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, urged Elon Musk to provide Starlink services. After twelve hours, Elon Musk tweeted that the Starlink satellites are now functional in Ukraine. Starlink has several benefits over other communication systems, including orbiting closer to the ground and having smaller, easier-to-install technology than traditional satellites. Experts claim it can be deployed in more significant numbers and provides better coverage in conflict zones because it is smaller.
Olga Stefanishyna, the deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, stated that Starlink has been essential to the government’s ability to operate and has helped them survive the conflict. To keep the population linked to one another, Starlink is crucial. Using Starlink, Volodymyr Zelensky continued to communicate with the civilians. The internet and traditional mobile services are susceptible to assaults and missile strikes. Both military and citizens can rely on Starlink’s independent and dependable broadband internet services.
Considering the capacity to facilitate secure communication between Ukrainian military units and soldiers in bunkers and on the battlefield, Starlink plays a very effective role throughout the military. Starlink’s internet access is crucial as a communicator for various operations to combat and destroy the Russian soldiers. The US and NATO military systems in Ukraine, which supply US maintenance workers in the Poland base, are not repaired by Ukraine since it lacks the necessary technology and knowledge. Starlink facilitates communication between the experts and Ukrainian soldiers, who use videos to assess the issue and provide fixes like installing a new part straight from the field. Ukraine has a competitive edge because of stable Internet access, which has balanced the playing field in competitiveness and technology.
Traditional Internet services are based on centralised data centres and networks. On the other hand, Starlink features a decentralised data centre that helps protect Ukrainian digital systems from cyberattacks. These Starlink services’ resilience has allowed Ukraine to maintain and supervise its command-and-control systems. For example, when the Starlink team heightened protection and brought attention to Russian military attacks.
Despite Starlink’s critical contribution to Ukraine, the country’s reliance on a private company raises significant questions regarding communication during conflict. Even while SpaceX is a private company with reliable facilities and operations, it remains answerable to its leadership and interests. Because Ukraine depends on Starlink, its military activities and lives will be directly impacted by Elon Musk’s and the company’s actions. If Starlink makes decisions that do not favour Ukrainian military activities, Ukraine’s tactical capacity will be hampered.
At first, Elon Musk’s commitment to provide Starlink services in Ukraine was viewed as a boon, but more recently, the policy change has sparked worries about Ukrainian security. Elon Musk argues that Starlink services shouldn’t be offered over Crimea to prevent violence from worsening. However, if he had granted the request to activate services in Sevastopol, SpaceX would be openly contributing to a significant act of war and conflict escalation. A company leader’s unilateral decision like this raises concerns about Ukraine’s national security. When a private organisation is essential to its military activities, such circumstances in a conflict zone emphasise the need for governmental organisations.
Ukrainian military authorities have reported that Russian troops have been using Starlink satellite communication systems for a long time and have purchased them from intermediaries and private Russian companies. When asked about this to Starlink, the company did not reply for a week and later denied the acquisitions, claiming they are not engaged in any business with Russia. The possibility of Russian exploitation of Starlink again raises security concerns for Ukraine. The situation questions the effectiveness of SpaceX and whether it can control who can access it, where one is using it for aid but can be misused by the other.
The contribution of Starlink, a US-based private entity in the war, intensifies the geopolitical tension because it operates under US jurisdiction. Any physical or cyberattacks by Russia on Starlink (US private infrastructure) could escalate tensions and induce NATO responses. The risk of US-Russia confrontation is possible if Russia destroys or interferes with the Starlink satellites in space. Russia already accuses the US of fighting a proxy war; for instance, Ukraine has fired ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles that directly indicate US and British involvement in the war. In 2021, the US signed a massive deal with Starlink, indicating Starlink’s deep-rooted connection with US intelligence. Starlink’s contribution will create a higher risk of geopolitical tensions between the US and Russia.
Therefore, the issue is: How can Ukraine lessen its reliance on Starlink? Ukraine should begin developing its self-sufficient Internet infrastructure as an alternative to Starlink services. Ukraine should begin constructing ground-based Internet networks that are immune to airstrikes and different kinds of attacks, similar to Starlink. Ukraine should develop technologies and seek financial aid from international monetary institutions to reduce its reliance on private companies. Ukraine, if it becomes a member in the future, can expect technological assistance and safe communication from NATO. For the advancement of communication technology, Ukraine might offer financial support to local tech firms to innovate reliable technology for communication between civilians. Considering these strategies, Ukraine can safeguard its sovereignty and be technologically self-sufficient.
Conclusion
In Modern Warfare, the growing dominance of private companies such as Starlink is ushering in a new geopolitical era. While Starlink plays a vital role in Ukrainian military operations, it has shown the harsh reality of rivalry governed by private enterprises rather than the government’s interests. The leadership’s unilateral choices to curtail services have affected military operations in Ukraine. The transition from traditional geopolitics and warfare to corporate organisations raises questions of accountability because they operate outside the control of the Government, diminishing the line between state and cooperative interest. The absence of technology in small or underdeveloped countries forces them to seek assistance from private companies. This phenomenon then gives private enterprises authority over them. A state-controlled infrastructure protects a country’s sovereignty and prevents private entities from dominating contemporary warfare.
