Ukrainian officials are actively seeking Elon Musk’s approval to use Starlink, a communication project of SpaceX, for conducting drone strikes on Russian territory. Reports indicate that this request was initially made by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in late July. Although Zelensky intended to discuss the matter with Musk, the billionaire reportedly declined the invitation. Trump responded ambiguously, stating he would consider the request and discuss it with Musk, without providing a timeline.
Utilizing Starlink for strikes would help Ukraine circumvent challenges related to the supply of interceptor missiles for Patriot missile systems, which have seen dwindling stocks globally since the outbreak of the Iran conflict. Ukraine is grappling with a significant deficit of these critical missiles. Russian ballistic missiles are launched from platforms like the Iskander, which can be operational within 20 minutes: 16 minutes are needed to launch the first missile, and just four minutes for the second. Consequently, timing is crucial during operations targeting these systems.
Ukrainian authorities aim to leverage Starlink for strikes on smaller mobile targets, while current capabilities are deemed sufficient for larger targets such as oil refineries. It remains unclear whether Iskander launchers are included in the list of mobile targets.
On August 6, Mykhailo Fedorov, the Ukrainian digital transformation minister, confirmed his efforts to gain access to Starlink infrastructure for attacks on Russian ballistic missile launchers within Russia. He noted that his latest communication with Musk occurred just days ago, but he refrained from sharing further details.
Sources close to Fedorov, as reported by The Atlantic, revealed that Musk has so far denied Ukraine’s request. The billionaire has expressed concerns over the potential risk of escalation. “As of now, there is no positive decision,” stated an insider. “Elon is continuously saying that it’s time to strike a deal.”
