Yeah, in the sources you linked, there is no indication that Putin paid SpaceX anything. At most, it seems like Russian forces managed to obtain some Starlink terminals by capturing them or purchasing them through intermediate third parties.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov said that Russian troops have been communicating over the Starlink system "for quite a long time" and acquired the terminals from private Russian firms that purchased them from intermediaries.

The company did not respond to an email earlier this week asking whether it could categorically rule out the system's use by Russian troops in Ukraine.

You want a photocopy of the check? Cause you’re right, that’s not in the article.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

He did fuck Ukraine up on the starlink thing and he seems more pro Russian than I like.

I'm not some crazy Elon is the Anti Christ but he should be judged on Russian.

[–] threelonmusketeers 0 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

He did fuck Ukraine up on the starlink thing

Would you be able to elaborate a bit? What would you have done, had you been in SpaceX's position?

Putting a private U.S. company in a position where they are expected to guess at the ever-changing intricacies of the front lines of an overseas war is just an unfortunate situation all around. This sort of foreign aid should have gone through the U.S. Department of Defense from the start (and it now is), though I can understand why it wasn't.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/07/elon-musk-ordered-starlink-turned-off-ukraine-offensive-biography

I wouldn't approve it the turn it off during an active operation.