Has Musk refused to activate the "Star Chain" to assist the Ukrainian army in launching a surprise attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet? The US Senate plans to investigate space exploration technology companies | Starchain | Musk
On September 13th, Xinhua News Agency quoted Reuters as saying that an excerpt from Musk's new biography revealed that Musk had refused to activate the "Starlink" satellite communication service in the Crimea region in September last year, resulting in the Ukrainian army's failure to successfully launch a surprise attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The US Senate recently stated that it is collecting information and plans to conduct an in-depth investigation into this matter.
On September 14th local time, Jack Reed, Chairman of the US Senate Military Committee and Democratic Senator of Rhode Island, stated in a statement that the committee is investigating Musk's refusal to activate the Starchain service to help Ukraine attack the Russian Black Sea Fleet located in Crimea. The statement stated that the media's exposure of the use of "Star Chain" has "exposed serious national security responsibility issues", and the Military Commission has intervened to "conduct in-depth investigations from various perspectives" on this matter.
Reed and several Democratic senators in the United States have asked the US Department of Defense to answer why Musk, rather than US government officials, will determine when Ukraine can use the Starchain service.
The "Star Chain" satellite network was built by the space exploration technology company under the name of Musk to provide high-speed Internet access services to the earth. Earlier, it was reported that the Ukrainian army used the "Star Chain" service in reconnaissance and attack activities against Russia after the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Recently, fragments of Musk's new biography by renowned American biographer Walter Isaacson have been leaked, claiming that Musk ordered the closure of Starchain services near Crimea last year due to concerns about escalating conflicts, resulting in the failure of Ukraine's attack on Russian warships.
This news immediately drew public attention upon its spread. Musk himself responded on the social platform "X" that Ukraine did ask for the emergency launch of the Crimean "star chain" last year to help it sink Russian warships. If he really responded to the request of Ukraine, he would become an "accomplice" in the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Regarding the accusation of "treason", Musk responded by stating that the US Congress did not declare war on Russia and that he was an American citizen who would only fight for the United States.
In addition, Musk also stated on the podcast "All in Podcast" that the initial closure of Starlink services in the Crimea region was influenced by US sanctions against Russia. Musk stated that if US President Biden issued corresponding instructions, he would extend the usage time of the Crimean "Star Chain" for Ukrainians, but he did not receive such instructions.