SpaceX never intended Starlink internet to be 'weaponized' in Ukraine, says COO

• SpaceX's COO said the company didn't intend Starlink to be "weaponized" amid the war, per reports.
• Gwynne Shotwell claimed the Ukrainian military had used Starlink internet in "unintentional" ways.

Elon Musk's SpaceX never intended its Starlink satellite internet to be "weaponized" in the Ukraine war, COO Gwynne Shotwell said, per media reports.

She told a Federal Aviation Administration conference in Washington DC on Wednesday that SpaceX was aware Ukraine's military was using Starlink for communications in its conflict with Russia.

However, Shotwell claimed Ukraine had used Starlink "in ways that were unintentional and not part of any agreement," according to a report by Space News.

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"We were really pleased to be able to provide Ukraine connectivity and help them in their fight for freedom," the SpaceX COO said, according to Space News. "It was never intended to be weaponized, but the Ukrainians have leveraged it in ways that were unintentional and not part of any agreement."

Shotwell said SpaceX had taken steps to limit the Ukrainian military's use of Starlink in offensive operations, per Space News and other reports.

After the conference address, Shotwell spoke to the media about reports of the Ukrainian military using Starlink on drones, per Space News and other outlets.

The Times of London reported in March 2022 that an elite Ukrainian drone unit was using Starlink to help destroy Russian weaponry such as tanks and trucks at night.

SpaceX and Ukraine's defence ministry didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside of normal US working hours.

Starlink's terms of service state that the service is "not designed or intended for use with or in offensive or defensive weaponry or other comparable end-uses."

Musk has previously tweeted about Starlink being used for "peaceful use only" and being banned for use in long-range drone strikes.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, SpaceX has provided thousands of Starlink dishes to Ukrainians and has helped Ukrainian troops stay online. One soldier told a British reporter that the satellite service had "changed the war in Ukraine's favor."