Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded Elon Musk the Order of Liberty, one of Ukraine's most prestigious state honors, recognizing exceptional merit in defending sovereignty, freedom, and human rights. The decision was formalized through a presidential decree published this Wednesday.
According to the decree, Musk was recognized for his “exceptional personal merits” in protecting life and liberty and for his contribution to the development of relations between the peoples of Ukraine and the United States.
The distinction arises in a context particularly marked by the role played by Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet network, in Ukrainian communications since the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion in 2022.
Technology has become essential for maintaining communications in areas where conventional infrastructure has been destroyed or damaged by fighting. Starlink terminals have also come to play an important role in communications for Ukrainian forces and in drone operations.
A relationship marked by disagreements.
Despite the recognition now afforded to him, the relationship between Musk and the Ukrainian leadership has been marked by several disagreements throughout the war.
The American businessman has publicly criticized Kiev's strategy and advocated for negotiations to end the conflict. He has also expressed concern about the use of Starlink in military operations that could provoke a direct escalation with Russia.
More recently, Ukraine has sought authorization to use Starlink on drones operating within Russian territory. Kyiv believes this capability could help target Russian military objectives, including systems used to launch ballistic missiles against Ukrainian cities. Musk has been reluctant to authorize this use, considering it a potential escalation of the conflict.
Starlink remains at the center of the issue.
The importance of the satellite network for Ukraine has increased even further with the use of Starlink by Russian forces through terminals obtained in an unauthorized manner.
In early 2026, SpaceX took steps to prevent Russian forces from accessing these terminals, a decision that, according to Ukrainian authorities, affected Russian military capabilities.
The Ukrainian government now intends to expand the use of the technology, while Musk continues to assess the risks associated with greater Starlink involvement in military operations against Russia.
The awarding of the Order of Liberty thus comes at a time when Ukraine continues to rely heavily on SpaceX technology, while simultaneously seeking to convince Musk to allow more widespread use of the network.
The distinction also represents a significant shift in the tone of the relationship between Kyiv and the businessman, after years of public disagreements. Despite the differences, the role played by Starlink in maintaining Ukrainian communications during the war continues to be considered fundamental.
Content published on the Senso Magazine website is automatically translated using Google Translate services.
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