Ukraine on Monday reacted angrily to a social media post by billionaire Elon Musk that made fun of President Volodymyr Zelensky's repeated calls for Western military and financial aid to fight Russian forces.
Musk has provided Ukraine with Starlink satellite services that have been vital to the Ukrainian army, but some have criticized his statements on the war with Russia.
Musk owns the social media platform X — formerly known as Twitter — where he posted a meme of Zelensky earlier Monday.
The caption read: "When it's been five minutes and you haven't asked for a billion dollars in aid."
"Any silence or irony towards Ukraine today is a direct encouragement of Russian propaganda that justifies mass violence and destruction," presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak answered on X.
Ukraine's parliamentary speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk also slammed the post while mocking Musk's attempt to "conquer space," after his SpaceX starship blew up shortly after blasting off in April.
Stefanchuk said the attempt had failed in five minutes and left the billionaire up to his eyeballs in problems.
Ukraine has praised Musk for deploying the Starlink satellites that became a key battlefield tool, helping soldiers communicate in areas where telecommunications are down.
But Musk also admitted he prevented Kyiv from wiping out Russia's Black Sea navy fleet last year by denying Starlink internet access for the attack.
He also previously angered Ukraine by proposing that Kyiv give up territorial claims in exchange for peace.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
