Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday awarded Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of Ukraine’s highest state honors, for his “outstanding personal merits” in protecting human life and freedom and strengthening ties between Ukraine and the United States.
Musk made no immediate comment on the award, which was announced by presidential decree. Zelenskyy has sought U.S. help in persuading Musk to permit Ukraine to expand its ability to use Starlink beyond Ukraine.
Musk has said he believes that would be a significant and dangerous escalation, Zelenskyy told reporters last week.
A reported mix-up over whether SpaceX had approved Ukraine’s use of Starlink for operations inside Russia contributed to tensions between Zelenskyy and then-Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was the government’s main interlocutor with Musk. Musk’s decision-making could shape Ukraine’s future military capabilities. Starlink doesn’t currently operate over Russian territory, but Zelenskyy wants Musk to reconsider the policy. That would allow Ukrainian forces to maintain satellite connectivity for longer-range drone attacks targeting Russia’s military and economic infrastructure. Fedorov was dismissed in July as part of a broader government shake-up. President Donald Trump, who accused the Ukrainian president of deceiving him. He did not say when that occurred.
Zelenskyy said inaccurate information from the Defense Ministry that SpaceX had approved the bid had contributed to an awkward exchange with U.S.
