Ukraine receives a signal from Elon Musk over Starlink-equipped attack drones

Elon Musk has reportedly given Ukraine an opening to use Starlink-equipped drones against targets inside Russia, while making clear that Washington would have to approve the policy.

People familiar with the matter told the Financial Times that Musk previously told former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov he would agree to let Ukraine use drones fitted with Starlink for attacks on Russian territory. Musk also told Ukraine that the decision was political and belonged to the White House.

Fedorov argued in a Financial Times commentary that increasing Ukraine’s long-range strikes against Russia offered a more promising way to pressure President Vladimir Putin to end the war. He said Ukraine needed additional investment in the weapons used for those attacks.

“We need more jet drones, we need cheap missiles, we need missiles with artificial intelligence. Otherwise, there is no way to reach an agreement with Putin... He understands only force,” Fedorov said.

Fedorov declined to say whether he planned to meet Musk during a visit to the United States, but said the two remained in close contact. The Financial Times previously reported, citing sources, that Ukraine was seeking Musk’s permission to use Starlink-equipped attack drones against Russian missile launchers as far as 200 kilometers inside Russia.

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We need more jet drones, we need cheap missiles, we need missiles with artificial intelligence. Otherwise, there is no way to reach an agreement with Putin... He understands only force.