Elon Musk’s SpaceX to stop funding Starlink terminals in Ukraine; Russia starts evacuating civilians from Kherson
A view of the grad rocket firing as counterattacks against Russia n forces continue in the Kherson region, on October 07, 2022. Russia is set to begin evacuating civilians from Ukraine ‘s embattled Kherson , in the latest sign that Ukrainian forces are successfully breaching more of the Russia n-occupied territory. “We suggested that all residents of the Kherson region, if they wish, to protect themselves from the consequences of missile strikes… go to other regions ,” Vladimir Saldo, Russia n-installed administration chief in Kherson , said in a video message, stressing that people should “leave with their children.” Evacuees from Kherson , in Ukraine ‘s south, are planned to start arriving in Russia on Friday, Reuters reported. That’s despite Russia announcing the annexation of the territory in early October, along with three other Ukrainian regions, after holding a sham referendum that claimed that a majority of people in Kherson wanted to join the Russia n Federation. The annexations were condemned by 143 countries in a U.N. vote on Thursday.Elon Musk’s SpaceX says it can no longer fund Starlink terminals in Ukraine Elon Musk’s company SpaceX said it can no longer fund donated Starlink internet terminals in Ukraine , according to a CNN report citing documents obtained from the Pentagon. SpaceX is asking that the U.S. government pay for the terminals instead. “Documents obtained by CNN show that last month Musk’s SpaceX sent a letter to the Pentagon saying it can no longer continue to fund the Starlink service as it has,” the CNN report wrote. “The letter also requested that the Pentagon take over funding for Ukraine ‘s government and military use of Starlink, which SpaceX claims would cost more than $120m for the rest of the year and could cost close to $400m for the next 12 months.” According to the report, SpaceX’s director of government sales told the Pentagon in a letter in September: “We are not in a position to further donate terminals to Ukraine , or fund the existing terminals for an indefinite period of time.” Musk, SpaceX’s founder and CEO, is one of the richest men on earth. Musk himself appeared to confirm this in a tweet on Friday, replying to a Twitter post that referenced Ukrainian ambassador telling Musk earlier this month to to “f— off” after the CEO proposed a settlement with Russia . “We’re just following his recommendation,” Musk replied.More than 320 ships carrying 7.2 million metric tons of grain and agricultural products have left Ukraine so far An aerial view shows ships at the anchorage area of the Bosphorus southern entrance in Istanbul, on October 12, 2022. The organization overseeing the export of grain from Ukraine said that since August more than 320 vessels have left the besieged country. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a deal among Ukraine , Russia , the United Nations and Turkey, said the voyages have exported more than 7.2 million metric tons of grain and other crops . Read more about the Black Sea Grain Initiative here.Treasury to host meeting on continued efforts to impose sanctions on Russia The St. Basil Cathedral and a Kremlin tower are visible on the Red Square in Moscow. The U.S. Treasury will host a meeting on Friday of countries imposing economic restrictions on Russia for its illegal invasion of Ukraine . Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo, along with Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves and Deputy Director of National Intelligence Morgan Muir will convene top officials from finance ministries and other government agencies that are imposing sanctions and export controls against Russia . “Economic restrictions placed on the Russia n military-industrial complex have had a direct effect on the battlefield,” Treasury wrote in a statement. “Together, these collective actions have rendered the Russia n defense industry unable to produce and maintain critical equipment for operations in Ukraine , including unmanned aerial vehicles, tanks, and missiles,” the statement said, adding that Russia ‘s defense industry is “hobbling.”‘Putin has never been more isolated,’ Blinken says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks about US policy towards China during an event hosted by the Asia Society Policy Institute at George Washington University in Washington, DC, on May 26, 2022. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.N. General Assembly’s vote to condemn Moscow for its attempt to annex more areas of Ukraine shows that “the world has never been more united in its repudiation of Russia ‘s war.” “[ Russia n President Vladimir] Putin has never been more isolated,” Blinken said at the State Department. “The U.N. resolution is also a resounding affirmation of global support for everything that President Putin is actually trying to destroy. It’s about affirming the right of every nation, big and small, to have its sovereignty, its independence, its territorial integrity,” Blinken added.
