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Transcript/ScriptUkraine Starlink – Bafradzhian
HEAD: How Elon Musk’s Starlink Is Helping Ukraine During War With Russia
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 06/25/2022 at 340p
BYLINE: Karina Bafradzhian ((PLEASE DON’T USE HER NAME))
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: David Gogokhia
PRODUCER:
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, News Agencies TBD
PLATFORMS: TV only
EDITORS: KE; Holly Franko
TRT: 2:47
VID APPROVED BY: Holly Franko
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: All interviews are Zoom and cleared for use))
((INTRO))
[[Elon Musk’s deployment of thousands of Starlink satellite internet terminals to Ukraine has been a major help for the country in its fight against Russia. VOA’s Russia Service has the story.]]
((NARRATOR))
Starlink Satellite internet terminals are a useful backup tool when Ukraine’s internet networks go down.
Made by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX, these portable links to the internet have been shipped to Ukraine by the thousands.
They have been used to coordinate artillery fire and operate drones but also allow Zoom calls from remote areas of the county.
The first Starlink terminals were activated in Ukraine on February
((Mandatory courtesy: AP/SpaceX))
26 – just two days after the war started.
((End courtesy))
((NARRATOR))
According to Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, in Chernihiv alone more than 10 kilometers of cable communications were destroyed as a result of the war. The local provider managed to restore internet access with just one Starlink terminal.
Today, over 14,000 Starlink terminals are operating throughout Ukraine, according to Todd Humphreys, a researcher from the University of Texas who consulted with SpaceX. Humphreys says the Starlink terminals are vital because Ukraine’s network is
((Mandatory courtesy: Fedorov + Telegram Logo))
under attack by the Russians.
((End courtesy))
((Todd Humphreys, University of Texas)) ((Zoom)) ((IN ENGLISH))
“Since the beginning of the war, Russia has demonstrated a keen interest in disrupting communication lines. They started off the war by a hacking attack on the Viasat terminals across Ukraine. And in fact, their attack affected Viasat terminals across Europe.”
((NARRATOR))
Russian hackers attempted to attack Starlink terminals as well, according to a May statement from Musk. But the attacks were unsuccessful.
((Todd Humphreys, University of Texas)) ((Zoom))
“It turns out that Russia's capability to locate the Starlink terminals, even the active ones, is much below what we had anticipated.”
((NARRATOR))
Starlink terminals have civilian applications as well.
((Konstantin Naumenko, Vodafone Ukraine)) ((ENGLISH)) ((Zoom))
“Ukrainian people use Starlink for basic Wi-Fi connection.”
((NARRATOR))
According to Politico, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also uses Starlink to publish vital information online and talking to world leaders via Zoom – including France’s Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Joe Biden.
Ukrainians also use Starlink to publish photos and videos of what is going on in the country, countering Russian propaganda claims.
((Konstantin Naumenko, Vodafone Ukraine)) ((ENGLISH)) ((Zoom))
“Communication in this time is very helpful, it allows people to understand what is true.”
((NARRATOR))
The U.S. government supports providing Starlink terminals to Ukraine. The U.S. Agency for International Development has worked with SpaceX to transport about 5,000 Starlink terminals to Ukraine.
((VOA News, Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Washington D.C.
Embargo DateJune 26, 2022 12:02 EDT
Byline((VOA News, Washington))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
