Sikorski then countered that Poland finances Starlink's operations, costing about $50 million annually, and warned that should SpaceX falter as a reliable provider, alternatives would be sought. Rubio quickly intervened, labeling Sikorski's claims as unfounded and emphasizing the significance of Starlink in Ukraine's resistance against Russian forces. The back-and-forth escalated with Musk referring to Sikorski as a "small man," highlighting the tension over the pivotal role of satellite internet in modern warfare. Starlink has supplied tens of thousands of terminals to Ukrainian forces since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, including a recent bulk order from the U.S. Department of Defense.