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United States billionaire Elon Musk told former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov that he was not opposed to Starlink being used for strikes on Russian territory, the Financial Times reported on August 31.
People familiar with the matter told the British newspaper that Musk had previously informed Fedorov he would not block Ukraine from using Starlink-equipped drones to strike targets inside Russia. He added, however, that the decision was political and rested with the White House.
The FT reported earlier this month that Ukraine was seeking Musk’s permission to deploy strike drones fitted with Starlink to attack Russian missile launchers inside Russian territory.
According to the sources, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked U.S. President Donald Trump during a July White House meeting to raise the matter with Musk. Kyiv proposed restricting the drones’ range to 200 kilometers from the Russian border, but Trump offered no clear endorsement, those present said.
In 2022, Musk restricted Starlink access during operations near the Crimean Peninsula to avert such risks, though he later green-lighted similar attacks.
The Ukrainian plan faces steep tactical obstacles. Kyiv has largely failed to locate and suppress mobile ballistic and cruise missile launchers, or even drone bases—including those in Crimea.
Recent conflicts underscore the difficulty of the approach. Even with complete aerial supremacy during the war with Iran, the U.S. and Israel could not fully prevent missile and drone launches. Later assessments showed that early claims of destroying the vast majority of Iranian launchers were heavily exaggerated.
Russia’s sprawling and deeply entrenched military-industrial complex is far more robust than Iran’s, making Ukraine’s strategic aims appear largely unrealistic.
Earlier this month, Russia began mass production of the Volna Kupol Garant electronic warfare system, designed to counter Starlink effectively.
A Russian defense industry source told TASS that the new system was “just the beginning,” warning that Musk has gotten himself into the “wrong game.”
“If Starlink does not stop aiding and abetting terrorism, it will be up to Russia to decide whether to shut down Starlink only over our territory or worldwide,” they added.
Kyiv may recognize the strategy’s practical limits and instead view the Starlink request as a political lever intended to heighten escalation, extend the conflict, and extract further support from Western backers.
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