"Worried about over-dependence on Mr. Musk’s technology, Ukrainian officials have talked with other satellite internet providers..."

"... though they acknowledged none rival Starlink’s reach. 'Starlink is indeed the blood of our entire communication infrastructure now,' Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s digital minister, said in an interview. At least nine countries — including in Europe and the Middle East — have also brought up Starlink with American officials over the past 18 months, with some questioning Mr. Musk’s power over the technology, two U.S. intelligence officials briefed on the discussions said. Few nations will speak publicly about their concerns, for fear of alienating Mr. Musk, said intelligence and cybersecurity officials briefed on the conversations. U.S. officials have said little publicly about Starlink as they balance domestic and geopolitical priorities related to Mr. Musk, who has criticized President Biden but whose technology is unavoidable."

From "Elon Musk’s Unmatched Power in the Stars/The tech billionaire has become the dominant power in satellite internet technology. The ways he is wielding that influence are raising global alarms" (NYT).

"SpaceX has taken steps to prevent Ukraine's military from using the company's Starlink satellite internet service for controlling drones in the region..."

"SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, which has provided Ukraine's military with broadband communications in its defense against Russia's military, was 'never never meant to be weaponized,' Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's president and chief operating officer, said.... 'However, Ukrainians have leveraged it in ways that were unintentional and not part of any agreement,' she said.... Ukraine has made effective use of unmanned aircraft for spotting enemy positions, targeting long-range fires and dropping bombs. 'There are things that we can do to limit their ability to do that.... There are things that we can do, and have done.'"

 Reuters reports.