Fact vs. Fiction: Did Elon Musk Receive Millions from USAID for Starlink in Ukraine?

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ByMedia Bias Fact Check

Claim:

Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, received millions of dollars from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide Starlink internet terminals to Ukraine, contradicting claims that SpaceX fully funded the initiative.

Reasoning:

In early 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, USAID collaborated with SpaceX to deliver 5,000 Starlink terminals to Ukraine. USAID’s contribution amounted to approximately $3 million for these terminals. While SpaceX and Elon Musk publicly suggested that the company donated these terminals, documents revealed that a significant portion of the costs was covered by USAID and other entities. This contrasts with earlier claims that SpaceX bore the entire financial burden. However, SpaceX did contribute by providing service for free and potentially offering discounts on the terminals.

Additional reports indicate that USAID’s partnership with SpaceX was instrumental in deploying these terminals to support Ukraine’s internet infrastructure during the conflict. The collaboration ensured that critical communication services remained operational amidst the challenges posed by the invasion.

Furthermore, the USAID Office of Inspector General initiated an inspection to assess the agency’s oversight of the Starlink terminals provided to the Ukrainian government, highlighting the significance and scale of this collaboration.

Fact or Fiction? ✅ Fact – USAID provided millions in funding for Starlink terminals in Ukraine, indicating that the initiative was not solely funded by SpaceX, contrary to some public claims.

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