The head of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate Kyrylo Budanov has commented on th scandal about SpaceX CEO Elon Musk thwarting a Ukrainian attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet in occupied Crimea. He confirmed that Starlink satellite communication systems did not work near the peninsula for some time, but emphasized that "the entire front line depends on it."

Budanov said this during the Yalta European Strategy (YES) forum on September 9, Interfax-Ukraine reports. "I am not sure that Elon Musk operated some mythical buttons and stopped the connection. This is my personal opinion," he said.

At the same time, the head of Ukrainian Intelligence confirmed that Starlink did not operate near Crimea for some time.

"Starlink systems did not work for a certain time near Crimea, this is a fact I can confirm because we also used a certain technique. We realized that there is simply no coverage there right away, that's probably all I can tell you," Budanov added.

He also noted that Starlink plays a significant role in the war against the aggressor, as many systems use them to transmit data from UAVs, especially when the command center is located at a remote distance.

"Starlink systems have proven themselves quite well on the frontline. We can discuss whether they are good or bad, but the fact is that the entire front line depends on them," the head of the DIU said.

As reported OBOZREVATEL:

- Earlier CNN published an article saying that Musk secretly ordered the disconnection of the Starlink network near Crimea to disrupt a secret operation of the AFU last year. As the underwater drones carrying explosives approached the target, they "lost communication and harmlessly beached themselves."

- Musk, responding to the accusations, said he received an urgent request from Kyiv but did not fulfill it. According to him, he did not want SpaceX to become an accessory to the war.

- Elon Musk published confidential correspondence with the head of Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov without asking the minister's permission. According to Fedorov, it was "not very nice".

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