Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday awarded 
Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of Ukraine's highest state honors, as Kyiv seeks wider use of Starlink in its war with Russia. The award credits Musk with "outstanding personal merits" in protecting human life and freedom and strengthening ties with the United States, the Associated Press reported in a story carried by PBS NewsHour. Musk made no immediate comment on the award, which was announced by presidential decree.
Why does Starlink matter to Ukraine's war effort? Musk's decision to provide access to Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet network, was a lifeline for Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 and remains critically important, and that access is the main reason for the early successes of Ukraine's middle-strike drone campaign, the Associated Press reported. Commanders and soldiers rely on the connectivity to communicate and coordinate operations, and the technology has been integrated into Ukraine's drone operations, helping operators maintain links with drones and navigate them over longer distances. The drone campaign caught Russian forces off guard earlier this year and has put pressure on Russian logistics in Crimea.
What does Kyiv want from Musk? Zelenskyy, who has sought U.S. help in persuading Musk to let Ukraine use Starlink beyond its borders, said last week that Musk has said he believes such an expansion would be a significant and dangerous escalation. Starlink does not currently operate over Russian territory, and a change would let Ukrainian forces keep satellite connectivity for longer-range drone attacks on Russia's military and economic infrastructure. Musk has allowed Ukrainians to use Starlink inside their own territory, including Russian-occupied regions, but has restricted its use inside Russia.
Why does the relationship matter to Kyiv? With Starlink embedded in Ukraine's wartime communications, Musk and SpaceX have significant influence over how the technology can be used, making a positive relationship important for Kyiv, the Associated Press reported. Earlier this year, SpaceX blocked unauthorized Starlink terminals being used by Russian forces in occupied territory. A reported mix-up over whether SpaceX had approved Starlink use for operations inside Russia contributed to tensions between Zelenskyy and Mykhailo Fedorov, then defense minister and the government's main interlocutor with Musk. Fedorov was dismissed in July as part of a broader government shake-up.
Figures referenced: Elon Musk. — JudgeMarket.
