Walter Isaacson attempted to clarify particulars regarding Elon Musk's role in Ukraine on Friday night after an excerpt from his forthcoming book prompted criticism. In the book, Isaacson refers to Musk instructing engineers to shut down Starlink's satellite network over Crimea in order to ward off a Ukrainian attack on Russian warships. His commentary came in response to a statement from a leading assistant to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had expressed dissatisfaction at Musk on account of the excerpt.
Walter Isaacson, the author of the upcoming book "Elon Musk," took to social media on Friday night in an attempt to "clarify" an excerpt of his work that had been met with swift criticism. The passage described how Musk had blocked a Ukrainian military mission by shutting off Starlink's satellite network near Crimea last year. As governments worldwide were assisting Kyiv in supplying air defense systems, the tech mogul allegedly told Isaacson that "Starlink was not meant to be involved in wars" and he feared the Ukrainian action against Russian ships could potentially prompt the Kremlin to spark a nuclear conflict.
Isaacson broadened the story on X, formerly known as Twitter, late Friday evening, explaining that the Ukrainians presumed the Starlink coverage extended to Crimea, but it was not the case. According to the book, they asked Musk to allow it for their drone sub attack on the Russian fleet, to which he denied, afraid it would result in a full-fledged war. Crimea, a Black Sea peninsula unlawfully taken over by Russia in 2014, is the homeport of its naval forces. Following Russia's invasion in 2022, these warships directed missiles towards Ukrainian coastal cities and enforced a forceful naval blockade.
In response to the excerpt, Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior aide of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, publicly expressed his outrage at Musk, affirming that civilians, including children, are fatalities of Musk's denial combined with his ignorance and pride. Isaacson's full book will be available to the public on Tuesday. CNBC's Amanda Macias contributed to this report.
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