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Ukraine seeks Elon Musk's permission to use Starlink for strikes in Russia
Ukraine has requested that SpaceX owner Elon Musk permit the use of Starlink satellite internet to facilitate drone strikes against Russian military targets. The proposed strikes would target infrastructure used to launch ballistic missiles, potentially reaching up to 200 kilometers inside Russian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly approached U.S. President Donald Trump to mediate this request with Musk. However, sources indicate that Trump did not commit to assisting and did not appear to support the plan.
Elon Musk has previously expressed opposition to using Starlink for attacks within Russian territory, citing concerns over the risk of nuclear escalation. The request comes as Ukraine faces challenges in defending against ballistic missiles due to a shortage of Patriot air defense systems. Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who maintained close ties with Musk, had previously engaged in discussions regarding Starlink services.
Entities
Donald Trump · Elon Musk · Iryna Mudra · SpaceX · Starlink · Ukraine · Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Zelenskyy asked Trump to discuss the matter with Musk, but Trump did not make any promises and did not appear to support the plan. pmo.ee · www.la.lv · ve.lt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov previously communicated with Musk regarding Starlink usage. ve.lt
- [● 3 SOURCES] Ukraine requested Elon Musk to allow the use of Starlink satellite internet for strikes on Russian missile launch sites. pmo.ee · www.la.lv · ve.lt
- [● 3 SOURCES] Musk is unlikely to grant permission to Kyiv due to concerns regarding nuclear war risks. pmo.ee · www.la.lv · ve.lt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Musk insists on a peace treaty between Kyiv and Moscow. ve.lt
- [● 3 SOURCES] The request involves drone strikes up to 200 kilometers deep into Russian territory. pmo.ee · www.la.lv · ve.lt