Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, the “Order of Freedom,” the highest Ukrainian honor conferred on foreign citizens. This recognition is for Musk’s remarkable contributions to safeguarding human life and liberty, as well as fostering relations between Ukraine and the United States, according to reports from dpa and EFE.
The announcement came via a decree published on the official website of the Ukrainian presidency on Wednesday.
This accolade follows recent tensions involving Musk’s name in a public dispute between Zelensky and his former defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov. Fedorov, a youthful politician known for his technocratic reputation and close ties with Musk during his tenure as minister, has been vocal about his relationship with Musk as a reason for his reinstatement following his dismissal by Zelensky in July, which sparked protests across various Ukrainian cities.
Earlier this year, SpaceX agreed to deactivate its Starlink satellites, which Russia had begun using to guide drones in attacks on Ukraine, after discussions between Fedorov and Musk.
Fedorov, seen as a pivotal figure in the technological advancements of the Ukrainian military, is preparing for a tour in the United States, hoping to meet with Musk.
The former minister has openly challenged Zelensky and is the first prominent politician in Ukraine to call for elections during wartime. He has stated that he remains in contact with Musk, attempting to persuade him to allow the Ukrainian military to use Starlink for drone operations within Russian territory, rather than just in the occupied Ukrainian areas, as has been the case thus far.
Zelensky is also independently seeking to convince Musk to facilitate this expansion.
Musk has been hesitant to further engage in the conflict, partly due to concerns about provoking a response from the Kremlin that could involve nuclear weapons. This cautious stance has previously led to confrontations with Zelensky and has garnered hostility from many Ukrainians.
Musk’s name has also surfaced in one of the few public responses Zelensky made regarding Fedorov’s challenges. Over the weekend, Zelensky accused Fedorov of providing misleading information during his ministerial tenure, specifically regarding claims made before a meeting between Zelensky and then-President Donald Trump. Fedorov had allegedly informed Zelensky that Musk had approved the use of Starlink in Ukrainian strikes within Russia. Zelensky relayed this to Trump, who later privately accused Zelensky of attempting to mislead him after Musk denied endorsing the use of Starlink within Russia.
