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☆ I helped create a 'cyber army' to help Ukraine defeat Russia. We can't fight with guns, but we can fight with our laptops.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Yegor Aushev appealed for volunteers for a "cyber army" to help Ukraine defeat Russia. Within the first few days of the war, we separated the cyber army into groups of between 7 to 10 people. Our call for decentralized cyber army volunteers is probably what inspired others to create their own groups, such as Ukraine's IT army, formed a few days later by the minister of digitization, Mykhailo Fedorov. Another project involved using tech to recognize who was in photos left by Russian soldiers in Bucha near Kyiv. If it was a couple hundred Russian SIMs, of course it's Russian soldiers and not tourists.

☆ Turkey turns down Elon Musk's offer to activate SpaceX Starlink in the country after deadly earthquake, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk offered to activate SpaceX Starlink internet in Turkey after it suffered a deadly earthquake. On Monday, Turkey and Syria were hit by a massive earthquake that killed hundreds of people. SpaceX and Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment. SpaceX has sent thousands of Starlink internet dishes to Ukraine and its troops. In September, Musk said SpaceX planned to activate Starlink in Iran because of internet outages during protests over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody.

☆ Ukraine is using Palantir's software for 'targeting,' CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Jeffrey Dastin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Its software helps Ukraine target, for instance, tanks and artillery, a Palantir spokesperson said. The company, whose co-founders include Karp and investor Peter Thiel, has opened an office in Ukraine. "There are huge ethical issues on the battlefield," he said at an event Palantir hosted in Palo Alto. Japan is a "very high priority" market for Palantir including in defense, another Palantir official, Kevin Kawasaki, said in an interview. Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in Palo Alto, Calif.; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Elon Musk says Starlink is the 'connectivity backbone' for Ukraine amid the war, despite it being banned for long-range drone strikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said Starlink was the "connectivity backbone" for Ukraine in the war. But SpaceX has banned Starlink from being used in long-range drone strikes, he said. The host accused Musk of supplying technology and satellites for drone attacks and being "in principle, a war criminal." In response, Musk tweeted: "SpaceX Starlink has become the connectivity backbone of Ukraine all the way up to the front lines. "However, we are not allowing Starlink to be used for long-range drone strikes.

☆ Ukraine is raising funds to build a strike force of 1,000 exploding drones to help defeat Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Ukrainian intelligence unit has appealed for funds to buy up to 1,000 exploding drones. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have made extensive use of drones in the conflict. The Kryla, part of Ukraine's military-intelligence service, wants a fleet of 1,000 so-called first-person-view drones to help defend its front line against Russian forces. The defense ministry said such drones could collect intelligence and essentially function as snipers from a distance of about 6 miles. Funds are being raised through the "Starlife-Charity" foundation, which has helped Ukrainian forces since Russia invaded in February.

☆ Ukraine is raising funds to build a strike force of 1,000 kamikaze drones to help defeat Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Ukraine intelligence unit has appealed for funds to buy up to 1,000 kamikaze drones. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have made extensive use of suicide drones in the conflict. The "Kryla," part of Ukraine's military intelligence service, wants a fleet of 1,000 so-called first-person-view drones to help defend its front line against Russian forces. Funds are being raised through the "Starlife-Charity" foundation, which has helped Ukrainian forces since Russia invaded last February. The defense ministry didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

☆ Ukraine's deputy prime minister says it is educating its citizens about the dangers of deepfakes as it fights Russian disinformation in 'a war of technologies'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine's vice prime minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, spoke at the Tech Power and Cooperation panel in Davos. He said Ukraine had seen a lot of Russian propaganda and deepfakes, so educated citizens about it. He spoke on the Tech Power and Cooperation panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday, where topics included the potential dangers of facial recognition technology. Fedorov, who is also the minister of digital transformation, said: "We saw a lot of Russian propaganda and we saw a lot of deepfakes." Fedorov also spoke about how facial recognition allowed Ukraine to identify dead Russian soldiers and inform their families.

He long has sought Patriot missiles to help counter three months of Russian missile and drone strikes on civilian infrastructure, including Ukraine's power grid. Switching to Russian, Zelenskiy warned that "citizens of Russia must clearly understand that terror never goes without a response." REPORTED REINFORCEMENTSUkraine has driven Russian forces from the areas around its capital Kyiv and second biggest city Kharkiv. Moscow is now focused on holding areas its forces occupy in southern and eastern Ukraine - around a fifth of the country. Russian forces shelled the southern Kherson region 61 times in 24 hours, half of those within Kherson city, killing one person, Governor Yaroslav Yanushevych said.

☆ Amazon helped rescue the Ukrainian government and economy using suitcase-sized hard drives brought in over the Polish border: 'You can't take out the cloud with a cruise missile'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-18 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In one initiative, Amazon sent suitcase-sized computer drives to back up critical data to the cloud. Using suitcase-sized solid-state hard drives, called Snowball Edge units — delivered to Ukraine through the Polish border — Amazon has helped back up critical infrastructure and economic information beginning the day Russia launched its invasion. In July, Amazon was awarded the Ukrainian peace prize for its work assisting the invaded country in backing up essential files to the cloud. "It's a tense moment around the baggage carousel," The Los Angeles Times reported Maxwell said. "You can't take out the cloud with a cruise missile," The Los Angeles Times reported Maxwell said.

☆ Drone strikes leave more than a million without power in southern Ukraine, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Mithil Aggarwal | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Russia used Iranian-made drones to target energy infrastructure in and around the port city of Odesa, leaving more than 1.5 million people without power, Ukrainian officials said Saturday. “The situation in Odesa region is very difficult,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address posted to his Telegram channel. People watch the soccer World Cup in a restaurant powered by a generator after a drone attack knocked out power in Odessa, Ukraine, on Saturday. The strikes were launched by the U.S.-supplied HIMARS missiles, Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-appointed governor of the region, said on his own Telegram. He added that that it would help Ukrainian forces cut supplies to Crimea, which Russia has been using as a launchpad for its offensives and missile strikes.

☆ Ukrainian air strikes hit Russian barracks in occupied Melitopol with US-supplied HIMARS, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine launched a missile attack on the occupied city of Melitopol, Ukrainian and pro-Kremlin authorities said. Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russia-installed head of the Zaporizhzhia region, also said that HIMARS struck Melitopol, per the Kyiv Post. The Moscow-appointed Zaporizhzhia governor said that the missiles struck and destroyed a "recreation center" where people were dining. According to The Guardian, the missiles struck a former resort and hotel complex next to a church which was reportedly being used as Russian barracks. Russian state media also reported that 20 missiles hit the Donetsk People's Republic on Sunday morning, according to CNN.

CNN —Multiple explosions have been reported in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine, in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and in annexed Crimea – including at a Russian military barracks. Federov last month said Russia had turned Melitopol into “one giant military base.”“The Russian military is settling in local houses they seized, schools and kindergartens. The Ukrainian military has not yet confirmed or commented on the attack. The unofficial Crimean media portal “Krymskyi veter” said an explosion at a Russian military barracks in Sovietske had set the barracks on fire and there were dead and wounded. “In total, Russian terrorists used 15 Shahed drones against Odesa,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during his daily address on Saturday.

☆ Ukraine attacks occupied Melitopol, Russian side says two killed
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Nick Starkov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Ukraine attacked occupied Melitopol in the country's southeast on Saturday evening, the Russian-installed and exiled Ukrainian authorities of the strategically located city said. The pro-Moscow authorities said a missile attack killed two people and injured 10, while the exiled mayor said scores of "invaders" were killed. He said a "recreation centre" where people were dining was destroyed in the Ukrainian attack with HIMARS missiles. "All logistics linking the Russian forces on the eastern part of the Kherson region and all the way to the Russian border near Mariupol is carried out through it," Arestovych said in a video interview on social media. Ukrainian forces gain a direct route to Crimea."

☆ Ukraine is crowdfunding a new fleet of drone boats to take on the Russian navy, and for just $250,000, it'll let people name one
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine has launched a crowdfunding appeal for a fleet of naval drones. The effort comes after Ukraine used the drones to strike Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Last month, a swarm of Ukrainian naval and aerial drones attacked Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, a port city in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. Oleksiy Neizhpapa, commander of the Ukrainian Navy, claimed Friday that they can also do more than just pester ships at port. "Such naval drones have already proven their effectiveness, and can change the situation in the Black Sea significantly."

☆ President Biden says Elon Musk's relationships with other countries are worth looking into
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In this article TSLATWTR Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTJoe Biden, left, and Elon Musk Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters; Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAsked on Wednesday whether Tesla , SpaceX and Twitter CEO Elon Musk posed a threat to national security, President Joe Biden said that the centi-billionaire's "relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at." Biden said, "Elon Musk's cooperation and/or technical relationships with other countries is worthy of being looked at. Throughout 2022, Musk has accused the President of ignoring his electric vehicle venture, Tesla, despite its success, and favoring legacy automakers and their unions. The kingdom of Qatar also participated in Musk's Twitter deal. The Ukrainian government, which generally praises SpaceX and Musk, is now looking for alternatives to Starlink, Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said last Thursday.

☆ Ukraine looks to technology to help rebuild its economy amid Russia’s onslaught
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

An attendee passes by the Ukraine stand at the Web Summit 2022 tech conference in Lisbon, Portugal. Ukraine had a notable presence at Web Summit, where it sought support from the global tech community to bolster its fight against Russia. In 2021, Ukraine had a small booth at Web Summit, Krasovsky said. Ukraine Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov (right) and First Lady Olena Zelenska (center) attend the Ukraine booth at Web Summit 2022. SID Venture Partners, a venture fund set up by Sigma and fellow Ukrainian tech firms Ideasoft and Datrics, has so far invested in 10 startups with Ukrainian founders, Krasovsky said.

[1/2] An Ukrainian start-up desk is seen at the Web Summit, Europe's largest technology conference, in Lisbon, Portugal, November 2, 2022. REUTERS/Pedro NunesLISBON, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Ukrainian entrepreneurs brought a message of hope to this week's Web Summit in Lisbon, Europe's largest tech gathering that ended on Friday: the war has made them more resilient than ever. "Many more Ukrainians came to the Web Summit this time," he added, standing in front of the Ukrainian pavillion. Web Summit chief Paddy Cosgrave told Reuters last week 59 Ukrainian startups were at the 2022 event. "This is a good sign that the Ukrainian tech and startup ecosystem is developing even during a time of war," said Sobolenko.

Web Summit, the sector’s annual bash held in Lisbon, is doing the opposite. And the usual welter of tech companies, investors and celebrities are still milling around. That new strain of reality-based tech investing has a lot further to go, though. The relative lack of investor focus at Web Summit on new technologies that could really move the dial, such as ways to ease climate change, is striking. The sector, Smith told Breakingviews, will increasingly “influence what people talk about and who comes to Web Summit”.

LISBON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Ukraine trusts Elon Musk to continue providing internet access through his SpaceX rocket company's Starlink satellite system despite a wobble last month, but is also seeking additional providers, one of its deputy prime ministers said on Thursday. Mykhailo Fedorov, in Portugal for Europe's largest tech conference, the Lisbon Web Summit, said Ukraine had discussed Starlink directly with Musk and was confident the Tesla and Twitter boss would not shut the service down in Ukraine. Starlink has "worked, is working and will definitely work in Ukraine", Federov, who runs Ukraine's digital transformation ministry, told a news conference in response to a question about the service from Reuters. Fedorov spoke at a joint news conference with Microsoft President Brad Smith, who announced around 100 million dollars of additional technology aid for Ukraine throughout 2023. "This will enable the government and other organisations in Ukraine to continue to run their services and serve Ukraine citizens through the Microsft Cloud and our public data centres spread across Europe," Smith said.

☆ Ukraine government is seeking alternatives to Elon Musk’s Starlink, vice PM says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Ukrainian government is looking for alternatives to Starlink, the satellite internet arm of Elon Musk's SpaceX, Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Thursday. Musk's continued support for Starlink in Ukraine was called into question last month when the billionaire said his space venture could no longer fund the operation in Ukraine "indefinitely." During a press conference Thursday at the Web Summit tech conference in Lisbon, Portugal, Fedorov said that he hasn't seen any issues with Musk's financing of Starlink in Ukraine continuing. "One of the reasons I came to Web Summit is to look for new partnerships and engage with new partners," he added. Last month, Musk said SpaceX couldn't continue funding Starlink terminals in Ukraine "indefinitely."

[1/2] Ukraine's First Lady, Olena Zelenska, attends the opening event of Europe's largest tech conference, the Web Summit, in Lisbon, Portugal, November 1, 2022. REUTERS/Pedro NunesLISBON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - In an emotional appeal, Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska urged tech workers from around the world on Tuesday to create innovations to stop Russia and help save people in her war-torn country. Describing technology as a "battlefield" in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Zelenska said that technological equipment such as drones and missiles were being used to "kill people," not to save them. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's vice prime minister who also runs the ministry of digital transformation, will also speak. Reporting by Catarina Demony, Sergio Goncalves and Pedro Nunes in Lisbon Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine has taken delivery of its first mine-clearing machine, which was made by a British company and cost almost $500,000
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine received its first mine-clearing machine, the Armtrac 400, which was made by a UK company. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyUkraine has taken delivery of its first mine-clearing machine, which was made by a British company. Funds raised through the initiative have allowed Ukraine to buy an Armtrac 400 for the Kharkiv region, which is no longer occupied but remains contaminated with mines. Ukraine paid almost $500,000 for the Armtrac 400. UNITED24The mine-clearing vehicle was developed and manufactured by Armtrac, based near Cambridge, England.

☆ Elon Musk says SpaceX won't cut off Starlink in Ukraine even if the US government refuses to fund the internet service
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk said SpaceX wouldn't stop Starlink in Ukraine even if the Pentagon declined to fund it. SpaceX asked the Pentagon to fund Starlink in Ukraine because the company said it couldn't afford it. Despite this, Musk has said SpaceX was burning around $20 million per month to keep the service running in Ukraine and Starlink was losing money. Although Musk said the costs were "unreasonable," he then backtracked on his refusal and said SpaceX would continue to fund Starlink in Ukraine. Politico reported on October 17 that the Pentagon has discussed whether to fund Starlink, according to two US officials involved with the project.

☆ Former Tinkoff execs raise $16 mln for fintech start-up
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Tatiana Bautzer | Nupur Anand | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Three former executives at Russian online bank Tinkoff have raised $16 million to launch a fintech start-up focused on Southeast Asia and initially targeting the Philippines, they said in a statement on Monday. The trio leading the venture all left Tinkoff in the second quarter, soon after Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggered Western sanctions against Russia and after an announcement that Tinkoff's London-listed owner TCS Group Holding (TCSq.L) was planning to expand in Asia. Among the men leading the fintech start-up is George Chesakov, who was a co-founder of Tinkoff and had announced a week before the Ukraine invasion that TCS would team up with Swiss payment specialist BPC in the Philippines as part of a $200 million expansion into Asia. The other two men leading the rival venture are Pavel Fedorov, joint Tinkoff CEO in 2021-22, and Raffy Montemayor, a Filipino who will head the new business in the Philippines. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterWriting by Kevin Liffey Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Pentagon considers funding Musk's Starlink network for Ukraine - Politico
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 17 (Reuters) - The Pentagon is considering paying for Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network in war-torn Ukraine, Politico reported on Monday, citing two U.S. officials involved in the discussions. The most likely source of funding would be the U.S. Department of Defense Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, designed to support the country as it fights Russia, the report added. loadingA Pentagon spokesman said the Defense Department would not speculate on future security assistance announcements before they occur. A separate report in the Financial Times said the European Union was also weighing funding Starlink in Ukraine, citing three officials with knowledge of the decision. "To be precise, 25,300 terminals were sent to Ukraine, but, at present, only 10,630 are paying for service," Musk tweeted on Monday.

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