US President Donald Trump has not supported Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s request to help expand Starlink’s operations to enable Ukrainian long-range drones to operate over Russia, according to the Financial Times. Kyiv had proposed allowing limited use of the service within a zone of up to 200 km from the border to locate and engage mobile ballistic missile launchers.
Briefly about the main points
- Kyiv’s request concerned the use of Starlink for Ukrainian drones flying over Russia.
- Ukraine aims to destroy ballistic missile systems before the missiles are launched.
- Musk had previously been cautious about the service’s use for offensive purposes.
- Kyiv is continuing negotiations on restricted internet access.
What Ukraine asked for in Washington
The issue was raised during meetings a meeting between the Presidents of Ukraine and the US at the White House in late July. Zelenskyy asked Trump to speak to Musk about expanding the operational range of the satellite network for Ukrainian strike drones.
The proposed regime was intended to apply only to a limited area of Russian territory. The Ukrainian side considered that the defined zone and the targeting of military installations could mitigate the risks associated with such use of the service.
Search for launch systems for launching rockets
Kyiv intends to use a stable satellite link to detect mobile ballistic missile launchers, as well as to strike command posts and associated military infrastructure. Mobile systems are difficult to locate and engage, whilst Ukraine already possesses drones capable of operating on Russian territory.
The aim of this approach is to attempt to destroy the system before the missile is launched, rather than simply intercepting it after launch. The issue has become even more pressing due to shortage of interceptor missiles Patriot, which limits the ability to counter ballistic attacks.
SpaceX’s position and a previous precedent
Implementing this plan would require the consent of SpaceX and its owner. The FT notes that Musk has been cautious about the offensive use of Starlink due to fears of escalation.
A similar incident occurred in 2022, when Musk refused to extend coverage for Ukrainian operations in the area around occupied Crimea. In 2023, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell stated that the company had taken measures to prevent the service from being used to control Ukrainian drones.
Network access control and further negotiations
Starlink Since the start of the full-scale war, it has become one of the key elements of Ukraine’s military communications: the network maintains connectivity despite damage to ground-based telecommunications infrastructure and the activities of Russian electronic warfare systems.
In February, Ukraine and Starlink introduced terminal verification: the service in Ukraine is available to devices on the government’s «whitelist». This demonstrates the possibility of technical access control, but does not confirm authorisation for the use of Starlink over Russia. The negotiations have not yet yielded the desired result for Kyiv, but it continues to urge Musk to allow limited use of the network to counter the ballistic missile threat.
