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Zelensky honors Elon Musk with one of the highest decorations, despite clashes

Politiko 2026-08-27 07:55:33

Zelensky honors Elon Musk with one of the highest decorations, despite clashes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has honored billionaire Elon Musk with one of the highest decorations of the Ukrainian state, the "Order of Freedom", despite the tense relationship that has accompanied the relations between the SpaceX founder and Kiev over the years.

The decoration was awarded to Musk for his contribution to supporting Ukraine and strengthening Ukrainian-American relations. In the presidential decree, he is recognized for "outstanding personal merits in protecting the life and freedom of people."

At the center of the assessment is the Starlink satellite system, developed by SpaceX, which has been widely used in Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. The system has provided communications for civilians, state institutions, and the military, becoming particularly important in areas where traditional infrastructure has been destroyed or affected by electronic warfare.

But Musk's technological support has not meant a conflict-free relationship with the Ukrainian government.

Musk has opposed the use of Starlink in several Ukrainian military operations, particularly when it came to attacks on long-range Russian targets. The most controversial case involved Crimea, where he refused to activate the service near Sevastopol for a planned operation against the Russian fleet.

The billionaire has also publicly criticized Zelensky and called for a negotiated resolution of the conflict.

However, the strategic importance of Starlink for Ukraine has continued to grow. In 2026, Kiev and SpaceX also collaborated to limit the illegal use of Starlink terminals by Russian forces, which had used them on several attack drones.

Meanwhile, Ukraine intends to use the technology for drone operations deep inside Russian territory. Such use would enable communication and control over much greater distances, but so far Musk has not given approval for this expanded use.

Zelensky's decoration for Musk thus comes at a moment when the relationship between them remains complex: on the one hand, one of his company's technologies has become an important part of Ukraine's wartime capabilities; on the other, Musk has been one of the most vocal critics of some of Kiev's strategies.

 

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