President of Ukraine awards Elon Musk Order of Freedom

On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented Elon Musk with his nation's prestigious Order of Freedom during diplomatic efforts aimed at increasing access to Musk's Starlink satellite internet service. In his presidential decree, Zelenskyy commended Musk for "protecting people's lives and freedom, and developing relations between the peoples of Ukraine and the United States of America."

Musk's Starlink network has been instrumental to Ukrainian forces throughout the 2022 Russian invasion, providing vital communication and coordination capabilities. In February 2026, SpaceX took measures to disrupt the service for Russian forces by disabling thousands of Starlink terminals, thereby diminishing the enemy's military effectiveness.

Ukraine is currently seeking Musk's cooperation in allowing its army to utilize Starlink within Russian territory. This potential expansion would enable Ukraine to enhance the precision of missile and drone strikes, targeting deep inside Russia. However, Musk has cautioned that granting such access could be perceived as an escalation.

Despite this, Zelenskyy expressed optimism, stating that Musk might reconsider his stance upon encountering further compelling arguments. Recent recipients of the Order of Freedom for their support of Ukraine include French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.