Exclusive: Musk Opposes Allowing Ukraine to Use Starlink for Strikes on Russia, Despite Recent Media Reports, Sources Say
- Starlink internet terminals from SpaceX have become the operational backbone of Ukraine's drone missions, as forces began regularly equipping mid-range strike drones with terminals in recent months to maintain live video feeds.
- Unlike conventional radio systems where feeds are often lost, Starlink allows operators to maintain live video connections until impact; operator Jura said, "Starlink gives you the possibility not to study radio physics."
- Perennial Autonomy's Hornet drones, supported by AI-powered software from Palantir, achieved a confirmed strike rate of at least 60%, with sources estimating roughly $60 worth of Russian assets destroyed for every $1 of drones deployed.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought permission from SpaceX head Elon Musk to extend Starlink usage for strikes inside Russia, but Musk stated authorization remains a political decision requiring White House approval.
- Dependence on Starlink is growing, though analyst Gustav Gressel warned Ukraine's operational advantage could shrink by 2027 as Russia develops Rassvet, its own satellite communication system, to counter these capabilities.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Exclusive: Musk opposes allowing Ukraine to use Starlink for strikes on Russia, despite recent media reports, sources say
The Financial Times reported on Aug. 30 that Elon Musk was open to Ukraine using Starlink-equipped drones to strike targets in Russia, but said the decision would ultimately be a political one requiring approval from the White House.
Elon Musk could play a crucial role in the conflict in Ukraine. According to the Financial Times, the contractor would be willing to allow the use of his Starlink network to pilot Ukrainian drones targeting Ukrainian...
Billiard Ilon Mask is ready to allow Ukraine to use drones equipped with Starlink outside its territory to attack Russian targets, which, according to the sources of the Financial Times, he stated in a conversation with former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mikhail Fedorov.
According to the Financial Times, which refers to sources of knowledge, Ilon Mask, in a conversation with the Ukrainian ex-Minister of Defence, Mikhail Fyodorov, made it clear that he saw no obstacle to Kiev using drones with access to Starlink to defeat objects in the Russian rear.
EADaily, August 31, 2026. Billiard Ilon Mask was prepared to allow his Starlink system to be used to attack Ukrainian drones across Russia, with reference to the "own sources" of the British Financial Times, which is struggling to prolong the conflict.
Elon Musk is ready to open Starlink for Ukrainian drones over Russia. Kiev is already celebrating, but everything is still up in the air, as US President Trump will have the final say. According to unofficial information from the Financial Times, Elon Musk has informed the Ukrainian authorities that he is ready to allow the use of Starlink beyond Ukrainian borders. This would mean that Ukrainian long-range drones could hit targets deep inside Ru…
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- 38% of the sources lean Left, 37% of the sources lean Right
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