Elon Musk Refuses Ukraine Use of Starlink as Russia Deploys New Satellite Jammer

SpaceX chief Elon Musk has declined Ukraine’s request to employ the Starlink satellite network for targeting Russian territory, citing concerns that such use could further escalate the conflict. The decision follows ongoing Russian efforts to dismantle Starlink terminals used by Ukrainian forces, with more than 60 antennas reported destroyed in the Kharkiv region in July.

Russia has unveiled a new electronic‑war system called Volna Kupol Garant, a high‑altitude jammer that can temporarily blind Starlink satellites by directing a focused radio beam at them. The weapon relies on precise geometric calculations to track the fast‑moving satellites and flood their receivers, aiming to reduce the communications, drone control, and intelligence advantages that Starlink provides to Ukraine’s military.