--- title: "Elon Musk Warns That Russia May Be Spying on Starlink Connections" description: "Use With Caution SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is warning users in Ukraine who have received one of the company’s Starlink dishes to connect to the internet could be targeted by Russian state actors. “Important warning: Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so probability of being targeted is […]" date: "2022-03-03" modified: "2022-03-03" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-russia-spying-starlink" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "elon musk" - "SpaceX" - "the digest" - "ukraine" --- # Elon Musk Warns That Russia May Be Spying on Starlink Connections ![SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is warning users in Ukraine who have received one of the company's Starlink dishes could be targeted by Russian actors.]() *\Image: Getty Images/Futurism\* ## User Beware SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is warning users in Ukraine who have received one of the company's Starlink dishes that the connection could be targeted by Russian state actors. "Important warning: Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still working in some parts of Ukraine, so probability of being targeted is high," [Musk tweeted]() on Thursday. "Please use with caution," he added. It's a risk that's worth spelling out, especially given Russia's [extensive history]() of spying on adversaries — and its current [espionage efforts]() are as evident as ever during the nation's all-out assault on Ukraine. ## Reconnecting The news comes after SpaceX [sent an undisclosed number]() of Starlink hardware kits to Ukrainians hunkering down during Russia's ongoing invasion. Ukraine's vice prime minister Mykhailo Fedorov [had pleaded with]() Musk to provide Ukraine with Starlink connectivity, especially given Russia's targeting of communications infrastructure. The approach appears to be working out, according to Fedorov. "Starlink keeps our cities connected and emergency services savings lives," he [tweeted on Wednesday](). But Musk is now seemingly concerned that individuals or institutions using Starlink to connect to the internet may be an easy target for Russian state actors. It's a precarious situation: with Ukraine battling with [nationwide connectivity issues](), reestablishing reliable communications is crucial. But Russia is likely listening in as well. **More on the situation:** *[Ukraine Vice Minister Says SpaceX Starlink Is "Saving Lives"]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()