Kyiv seeks Elon Musk's approval to use Starlink for deep strikes inside Russia

Ukraine has requested permission from Elon Musk's company, SpaceX, to enable its Starlink satellite internet service for use with long-range drones. These drones are intended for deep strikes inside Russian territory. The request stems from Ukraine's urgent need to bolster its air defense capabilities, particularly to address a significant shortage of Patriot missile interceptors.

The ability to use Starlink for these operations is seen by Ukrainian officials as a crucial step in protecting advanced drones from electronic warfare interference that could disable them. This potential expansion of Starlink's application highlights the critical role of commercial satellite technology in modern warfare and underscores Ukraine's ongoing efforts to secure advanced technological advantages in its defense against the Russian invasion.