Ukraine asks Musk for permission to strike launchers in Russia

Ukraine is seeking permission to use drones equipped with the Starlink system against ballistic missile launchers up to 200 km into Russian territory, as Kyiv faces a critical shortage of air defense capabilities, The Financial Times reports.

Such a move would require approval from Elon Musk, whose position on Ukraine and its use of his satellite internet service is constantly evolving.

Another potential obstacle is that former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who maintained direct communication with Musk in Kyiv, was recently fired.

The need for such a strategy arose due to the critical shortage of interceptor missiles for the Patriot missile system. The intensification of Russian shelling and the shortage of ammunition on the global market are forcing Ukrainian military leadership to change its approach and focus on destroying the attack weapons themselves, rather than simply shooting down incoming missiles. Equipping drones with satellite communications will allow operators to maintain stable control over long distances and reduce the aircraft's vulnerability to electronic warfare.

Negotiations on this issue remain complex. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raised the issue of expanding Starlink's coverage area during his meeting with Donald Trump, but the American side has so far remained cautious about this initiative.

Currently, there is no official approval for the use of the technology outside of Ukraine.

Photo: screenshot.