Ukraine seeks Elon Musk's approval for Starlink-guided drone strikes in Russia

Ukraine is seeking permission from Elon Musk to use Starlink satellite connectivity to guide long-range drones for strikes up to 200 kilometers inside Russian territory. The initiative aims to target Russian ballistic missile launchers and military infrastructure to mitigate the impact of Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.

This request comes as Kyiv faces a critical shortage of Patriot air-defense interceptor missiles. By using Starlink-equipped drones, Ukraine hopes to destroy missile launchers before they can fire, reducing the reliance on limited air-defense resources. Starlink provides more stable connections over long distances and is more resistant to electronic jamming than traditional radio communications.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly presented this request to U.S. President Donald Trump during a meeting in July, asking for his intervention with Musk. However, reports indicate that Trump has not supported the proposal and offered no definitive commitment to facilitate the request. Elon Musk has previously restricted the use of Starlink for offensive operations within Russian territory to avoid escalation.