Conflicting Reports Emerge Over Elon Musk's Stance on Starlink Use for Strikes Inside Russia

Reports are conflicting regarding whether SpaceX CEO Elon Musk will allow Ukraine to use Starlink technology for drone strikes inside Russian territory. According to the Financial Times, Musk told former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov that he has no objection to such strikes, provided the White House gives political approval. This account is supported by center left sources, which note that Musk previously suggested such actions could happen if President Donald Trump ordered them.

Conversely, the Kyiv Independent reports that three sources familiar with the matter state Musk remains opposed to the use of Starlink for strikes deep inside Russia. These sources claim Musk believes such actions would escalate the war rather than bring it to an end. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he had been told by his Defense Ministry that Musk had approved the use of Starlink over Russia, but he later learned that Musk had given no such approval, leading to a misunderstanding with President Trump.

Ukraine seeks this capability to target Russian ballistic missile launchers and reduce its reliance on Patriot interceptor missiles. While Zelensky awarded Musk the Order of Freedom on August 26, the relationship remains complex. A Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent that while Musk's representatives pointed to the Trump administration for the decision, the administration indicated that SpaceX should decide.