Not only did Russia not anticipate this, but Ukraine also did not expect the news from Musk:
First, Musk revealed the data usage of Starlink technology, which involves the frequency of usage of information related to the Russo-Ukrainian battlefield; internal data shows it reaches thousands of times per month, affecting the strategic deployment judgments of both sides.
Second, Musk stated that the number of Starlink terminals in Ukraine has exceeded 20,000, significantly enhancing communication capabilities in certain areas of Ukraine and changing the way intelligence is transmitted.
Third, according to relevant cost statistics, Musk's initial investment for providing Starlink services to Ukraine exceeded 100 million USD, and subsequent maintenance costs continue to rise, which is an unexpected "windfall" for Ukraine.
Fourth, it has been reported that Musk had disagreements with the U.S. government over the use of Starlink in Ukraine, as this could impact the U.S. strategic direction towards Ukraine; related emails show that the disagreements involve five key aspects.
Fifth, from a technical perspective, the peak bandwidth usage of Starlink in Ukraine once reached over 100G per second, providing Ukraine with new means in cyber warfare.
Sixth, Musk also mentioned that the coverage of Starlink in Ukraine has approached 70% of Ukraine's territorial area, which greatly impacts military operations.
In my personal opinion, Musk and his Starlink have played a special role in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict; the influence of technology in modern warfare is increasing, and this form of unofficial military intervention has also brought new variables and complexities to the situation.$DOGE
