**Ukraine Has Alternatives to Starlink**
Ukraine has alternatives to the widely used internet system called Starlink, said Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. He made this statement at a forum in Kyiv on February 23.
**Tensions Between Ukraine and Starlink’s Owner**
There have been tensions between Ukraine and Elon Musk, who owns Starlink. This is because of Musk’s ties to Russia and some comments he made about Ukraine. Recently, it was reported that the US might block access to Starlink in Ukraine unless Ukraine signs a deal on its natural resources. However, this report was denied by Musk.
**No Threats Yet**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the same forum that no threats have been made so far to cut off Starlinks. But he also mentioned that it’s still possible.
**Starlink’s Importance in Ukraine**
Starlink has played a big role in securing communication during the war in Ukraine. Most battlefield positions have their own terminal, and around 42,000 terminals are in use across the military, hospitals, businesses, and aid organizations.
**Alternatives and Discussions**
Defense Minister Umerov did not say what these alternatives are or go into details about the discussions. But last month, the Digital Transformation Ministry told a news outlet that Starlinks were still very important for communication on the frontline, and a new order was underway.
**US Ability to Cut Off Starlink Connections**
The US has the ability to remotely cut off Starlink connections. This has happened before with Russian forces in the “gray zone”, which is like no man’s land. But so far, no Starlinks belonging to Ukrainians have been turned off.
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