Ukraine seeks Starlink for Russian strikes amid Patriot shortfall
Volodymyr Zelensky is urging Washington to secure Elon Musk’s approval for using Starlink to guide strikes inside Russia, a shift driven by dwindling US Patriot supplies that leaves Europe’s eastern flank increasingly reliant on private satellite infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked Donald Trump and US lawmakers to help secure Elon Musk’s permission for using Starlink to guide missile strikes inside Russian territory. The request was made during an Oval Office meeting this week and subsequent discussions on Capitol Hill. Mr Trump did not commit to the appeal.
The push reflects a growing shortfall in Ukraine’s air defences. US Patriot interceptors are being diverted to the American and Israeli conflict with Iran, and Mr Trump has stepped back from a July pledge to grant Ukraine a licence to produce the systems domestically. “We’re talking about it. But it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology,” Mr Trump told reporters on Friday.
To compensate, Kyiv wants to use SpaceX’s satellite network to improve the accuracy of its long-range weapons. While Starlink is permitted within Ukrainian borders and Russian-occupied regions, Mr Musk has blocked its operation inside Russia itself. “They need access to Starlink long term to make their longer-range and intermediate-range systems more accurate,” said Senator Mike Rounds, a Republican member of the Armed Services Committee.
For European capitals, the lobbying underscores a critical vulnerability: the continent's eastern security is heavily dependent on the policy decisions of a single American businessman. The Starlink constellation has been pivotal to Ukraine’s survival since the 2022 invasion. However, expanding its military use to guide strikes deep inside Russia introduces severe escalation risks, particularly as NATO intelligence services suspect Moscow is developing anti-satellite weapons to destroy the network with orbiting shrapnel.
Mr Zelensky is attempting to reframe Ukraine’s defence needs as directly beneficial to US interests in the Middle East. He presented Washington with evidence that Russia is assisting Iran in targeting US bases via satellite surveillance, and reportedly preparing to ship upgraded drones back to Tehran. “He has been very emphatic they are going to provide more aid to us in unmanned warfare,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat on the Armed Services Committee.
The Ukrainian president’s visit came ahead of a Senate vote advancing a new Russia sanctions package. While Mr Trump’s relationship with Mr Zelensky has improved as Ukrainian forces gain ground, the uncertainty over Patriot licensing leaves Kyiv searching for immediate, high-tech alternatives to sustain its defence.
