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Oct 13 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
Exclusive: Musk's SpaceX says it can no longer pay for critical Starlink satellite services in Ukraine, asks Pentagon to pick up the tab cnn.com/2022/10/13/pol…
I obtained documents SpaceX sent the Pentagon last month with internal numbers and breakdowns. They're "facing the difficult choice of reducing or stopping service because [SpaceX] cannot sustain these losses indefinitely." They say they've donated almost $100m to Ukraine.
I also got a letter Ukraine's commanding general, Valerii Zaluzhniy, sent Musk directly in July asking for 7,700 more Starlink terminals. SpaceX told Zaluzhniy to re-direct the request to DoD. This news comes amid Starlink outages reported along Ukraine's front line.
SpaceX told the Pentagon: "we have now exceeded our original agreement with Ukraine" and can't go on "for an indefinite period of time." They ask DoD to pay $124m for Zaluzhniy's request through end of 2022.
One senior US defense official told me the request has rankled top brass at the Pentagon while SpaceX has "the gall to look like heroes." The SpaceX figures show how much of an int'l collaboration is has been.
👀
Musk responds to the report SpaceX wants to stop paying for Starlink in Ukraine, saying they're just following the recommendation from a Ukrainian diplomat to f- off.
Pentagon "has been in communication with Space-X regarding Starlink. I’m not going to get into further details of the discussions just now,” Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters (via @EllieCKaufman)
@EllieCKaufman Pentagon confirms they're in touch with SpaceX about funding for Starlink in Ukraine. “We can confirm the Department received correspondence from SpaceX about the funding of Starlink...We remain in communication with SpaceX about this and other topics."

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More from @MarquardtA

Alex Marquardt Profile picture
Mar 8
NEW: Russian families are being told little or nothing about their soldiers who were sent into Ukraine. As the death toll grows so does their worry and many are desperately turning to a Ukrainian hotline for information. W/ @sebshukla @cstreib @MVicabu @PIERREbairin
@sebshukla @cstreib @MVicabu @PIERREbairin Operator: When was the last time he contacted you?
Wife: On the 23rd of February when he crossed the border.
Operator: Did he tell you where he was going?
Wife: He said towards Kyiv.

We spoke with 3 relatives of soldiers in the US who called the hotline. Including Marat in Virginia who had seen his relative’s ID and photos on a Telegram channel. “All the signs are pointing to that he is most likely killed in action…”
Read 4 tweets
Alex Marquardt Profile picture
Mar 7
In a village south of Kyiv we met Ihor Mozhaev picking through the rubble of his home after a Russian air strike Friday. He lost 5 family members, including his wife and 12yo daughter. "Just leave Ukraine alone already. God help this to end as soon as possible." (W/ @gultuysuz)
Mozhaev lost his wife, their 12yo daughter who was in a wheelchair after an accident with a drunk driver, his mother-in-law and two sons-in-law. A family friend was also killed. (Photos from Mozhaev family)
Two of Mozhaev's grandchildren survived the strike. We saw them walking around the village, neighbor Olha told us "they are scared of every noise now."
Read 4 tweets
Alex Marquardt Profile picture
Feb 28
Curfew in Kyiv is now lifted for the day, starts again at 10pm. Kyiv City Council said Monday that last night was "calm" and grocery stores and public transportation will be open, but residents should leave their homes only when "absolutely necessary."
"Overall, last night was calm, excluding some skirmishes and fights with sabotage and reconnaissance groups...if you' happen to go to the city after 8, you'll see fortifications, tank traps, and other defensive structures that have appeared on the streets," the City Council said.
With Kyiv's curfew lifted, people are flooding supermarkets. CNN's @gultuysuz has been to 3, reporting that the lines are extremely long and the shelves are emptying fast.
Read 4 tweets
Alex Marquardt Profile picture
Jan 28
NEW: US to block millions for Egypt over human rights, sources tell me. This is the $130m withheld in September which Egypt will now not get because they didn't meet the conditions. cnn.com/2022/01/28/pol…
"The last place that needs $130 million is Egypt," a senior State Department official said, adding that Congress has been told and there is "complete consensus" within the department that Blinken not allow Egypt to receive the money.
.@ChrisMurphyCT, who has been among the most vocal lawmakers on Egypt: "I’m glad the Biden administration held the line by reprogramming these funds. It sends the important message abroad that we will back up our commitment to human rights with action..."
Read 5 tweets
Alex Marquardt Profile picture
Jan 27
A Russian invasion is now virtually certain once the ground freezes, Biden said to Zelensky, a senior Ukrainian official told @mchancecnn. Kyiv could be “sacked," Russian forces may attempt to occupy it, “prepare for impact”, Biden said, according to this official.
Here's how the WH says the Zelensky call went. Biden "underscored the commitment of the United States to Ukraine's sovereignty...The leaders discussed coordinated diplomatic efforts on European security..."
White House pushes back on what Ukrainian official told @mchancecnn
Read 4 tweets
Alex Marquardt Profile picture
Aug 13, 2021
DHS head of intelligence John Cohen says the online extremist rhetoric they're seeing is similar to the lead up to Jan 6. Cohen told @Geneva_Sands the calls for violence are growing and while the conspiracies vary, much is centered on the lie that the election was stolen.
@Geneva_Sands Growing # of online comments like "the system is broken," "take action into their own hands," and "bring out the gallows" are fueling fears of violence, @DHSgov intel chief John Cohen told @Geneva_Sands in an exclusive interview cnn.com/2021/08/13/pol…
New DHS terrorism bulletin just released: threat environment leading up to and following the 9/11 anniversary as well religious holidays could serve as a catalyst for acts of targeted violence. dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/…
Read 4 tweets

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