WASHINGTON, March 1, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - A shipment of terminals for Elon

Musk's satellite internet service, Starlink, has arrived in Ukraine after one
of its ministers personally appealed to the billionaire in the face of
Russia's invasion.

   The gear could help provide internet in areas where access has been hit
due to the assault unleashed by President Vladimir Putin on Russia's neighbor
a week ago.

   "Starlink - here. Thanks @elonmusk," Ukraine's digital minister Mykhailo
Fedorov tweeted Monday with a picture of a truck loaded with Starlink
terminals.

   "You are most welcome," the SpaceX founder tweeted in response.

   Fedorov urged Musk to provide Starlink services to Ukraine days after the
invasion began last week, tweeting "While you try to colonize Mars -- Russia
try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space --
Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people."

   Web monitoring group NetBlocks has reported a series of significant
disruptions to internet service in Ukraine after the Russian invasion began.

   Starlink operates a constellation of more than 2,000 satellites that aim
to provide internet access across the planet.

   The company on Friday launched a further 50 Starlink satellites and many
more are slated to be put into Earth's orbit.