Zelenskyy Gives Elon Musk Ukraine Highest Honour

(President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo Credit: The Washington Times)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Elon Musk Ukraine's Order of Freedom, one of the country's highest honors, for his role in providing Starlink satellite internet to Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion.

Musk's decision to give Ukraine access to Starlink has become critical to the country's war effort.

The satellite network is now deeply woven into Ukraine's military operations, with commanders and soldiers using it to communicate and coordinate attacks.

Ukrainian forces have relied on Starlink for their drone operations, allowing them to strike targets over longer distances and catch Russian forces off guard.

Musk restricted Starlink use inside Russia but allowed it across Ukrainian territory, including in Russian-occupied areas.

Earlier this year, SpaceX blocked unauthorized Starlink terminals being used by Russian forces in occupied regions.

However, Musk's influence over Ukraine's military capabilities is also a source of concern.

Zelenskyy wants Musk to allow Starlink use over Russian territory to enable longer-range drone attacks, but Musk has said he believes that would be too dangerous an escalation.

Zelenskyy has asked the US government to persuade Musk to change his policy.

The disagreement has created tension between Ukraine and Musk, who holds outsized power over the country's military operations.

The issue also spilled into Ukrainian politics.

A confusion about whether SpaceX approved Starlink use for operations in Russia contributed to tensions between Zelenskyy and then-Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Fedorov was dismissed in July, partly because inaccurate information from his ministry about SpaceX's approval led to awkward exchanges with US President Donald Trump, who accused Zelenskyy of deceiving him.