Tesla To Pay Ukrainian Employees Called Up To Defend Country

Tesla will continue to pay the salaries of its Ukrainian employees called up to defend their country. According to an email sent by the company, Tesla will pay at least three months’ salary for reservists who return to Ukraine to fight.

RELATED: It’s War: Russia Launches Full-Scale Offensive Against Ukraine

Ukrainian Employees In Europe, Middle East, and Africa

Tesla sent an email to its Europe, Middle East, and Africa region employees. It said that the company will pay three months’ salary to all Ukrainian employees who return to their country to fight. It remains unclear if the offer extends to Ukrainian employees assigned in North America or elsewhere. After three months, Tesla will reassess the situation. The company will then decide on a later course of action depending on what happens.  

Earlier in February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called up reservists to return to their home country. This appeal was ahead of an anticipated invasion of Russia. Apparently, Tesla employs a number of Ukrainian employees who are also reservists in the Ukrainian armed forces. 

Tesla And SpaceX Supporting Ukraine In The War Effort

Tesla also helped its sister company SpaceX to provide internet services in Ukraine. Tesla’s Energy team assembled and provided lithium-ion battery systems to run the Starlink equipment in Ukraine. These systems, known as Tesla Powerwalls, helped keep Ukraine connected even as Russia shelled communication centers. 

Tesla has yet to establish formal operations in Ukraine. Despite the ongoing war, the company said that EV owners can obtain free charging in Supercharger stations in Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. To help, Tesla employees used inverters and charging cables donated by Tesla service centers in the area. Using the equipment, they managed to assemble the Starlink and Powerwall systems within the country. 

Ukraine Called On Elon Musk For Internet Help

Earlier, Ukraine made an appeal to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to send help via their Starlink satellite internet systems. The request came via Twitter from Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. He asked Musk to provide Starlink stations, which are internet-beaming satellites launched by SpaceX.  Fedorov is also the Ukrainian Minister for Digital Transformation.  

Fedorov also urged Musk to encourage “sane Russians” to stand against their government. “@elonmusk [Elon Musk] while you try to colonize Mars—Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space—Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand,” tweeted Fedorov.  

Other Companies Also Helping Out

As the Russia-Ukraine war intensifies, Tesla is not working alone to help its employees and business partners caught in the crossfire. Major US automakers General Motors and Ford quickly announced that they are suspending their business in Russia. Meanwhile, Stellantis announced last March 2 that it will establish a support team in Ukraine. The team will operate on a 24/7 basis to monitor the health and safety of its 71 employees in Ukraine.

Watch the MSNBC video reporting on how Americans can help the people of Ukraine

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Do you support Tesla’s moves to support its Ukrainian employees? Also, do you think Russia will retaliate against Tesla or SpaceX for helping Ukraine?

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