Starlink used for communications in Ukraine ultimately became deeply integrated into its military operations
Musk made no immediate comment on receiving the award, which was announced through a presidential decree.
Elon Musk received Ukraine’s Order of Freedom, one of the country’s highest state honours, from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday for his “outstanding personal merits” in protecting human life and freedom and strengthening ties with the United States.
Musk’s influence, however, has also made him a source of vulnerability for Kyiv. including Russian-occupied areas, Musk has restricted its use inside Russia While Starlink works across Ukrainian territory. Zelenskyy has urged him to reconsider the policy, which could allow Ukrainian forces to maintain connectivity during longer-range drone operations targeting Russian military and economic infrastructure. Musk’s role has increasingly spilled into Ukrainian politics. Confusion over whether SpaceX had approved Starlink use for operations inside Russia contributed to tensions between Zelenskyy and then-Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was the government’s main interlocutor with Musk. Fedorov was dismissed in July as part of a wider government shake-up.