The document states that Musk is awarded "for outstanding personal merits in protecting human life and freedom and developing relations between the peoples of Ukraine and the United States of America." The decision is notable against the backdrop of the entrepreneur's ambiguous statements about Ukraine. In April 2024, Musk claimed that Ukraine's accession to NATO could lead to nuclear war. He commented on a video published on X, in which then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke about Ukraine's future membership in the alliance. Musk stated that this could be how a film about nuclear apocalypse might begin. At the same time, Musk's SpaceX plays an important role in providing Ukraine with satellite communication. At the end of January, amid reports of the use of Starlink terminals on Russian strike drones, the company began taking measures aimed at limiting access for the Russian side to the satellite network. Later, then-Minister of Defense of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov announced plans to create a "white list" of Starlink terminals. It was assumed that only registered devices would be allowed to operate within the country. Recently, there was also information that Ukraine is seeking permission to use drones equipped with Starlink to strike Russian ballistic missile launchers on Russian territory up to 200 kilometers deep. As reported by the Financial Times citing sources, such use of the system may require Musk's consent. Drones with Starlink utilize SpaceX's satellite network, allowing them to maintain communication with operators at significantly greater distances than when using conventional radio channels, and they also have greater resilience to traditional electronic warfare measures. Such devices have already been used on the battlefield in Ukraine. Analysts estimate that the ability to use them beyond Ukrainian territory could enhance the effectiveness of detecting and striking Russian missile launchers.
