---
title: "Zelensky awards Elon Musk top state honor for Starlink support"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/83837/zelensky-awards-elon-musk-top-state-honor-for-starlink-support
published: 2026-08-26T09:07:00Z
language: en
author: "Liubomir Guțu"
section: "International"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Zelensky awards Elon Musk top state honor for Starlink support

> Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded American billionaire and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk the Order of Liberty, according to a presidential decree signed on August 26, 2026.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/85cdac6f-cbe7-4d36-86b5-c8d4a196642f.jpg)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded American billionaire and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk the Order of Liberty, according to a presidential decree signed on August 26, 2026.

The official citation honors the founder of SpaceX and Tesla for exceptional personal merits in defending human life and freedom, as well as advancing cooperation between the peoples of Ukraine and the United States.

The Order of Liberty ranks among Ukraine's highest state distinctions. It is conferred upon both Ukrainian citizens and foreign nationals for exceptional contributions to national sovereignty, democracy, and constitutional rights.

Musk has not yet publicly commented on the award.

**A complex wartime partnership**

The move comes after coordinated efforts to secure the satellite network on the battlefield. In January 2026, Musk responded to Ukrainian appeals regarding unauthorized Starlink units utilized by Russian forces, conferring with then-Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

By February 5, unregistered terminals used by Russian units were disabled across broad sectors, neutralizing drone threats powered by the satellite network along the front lines.

Diplomatic outreach regarding the network has continued at the highest levels. On July 28, Zelensky asked U.S. President Donald Trump to engage with Musk to authorize Starlink access within Russian territory to help target ballistic missile launch sites.

While Musk previously hesitated to lift those specific geographic restrictions, he stated in March 2025 that he would never cut off Starlink services for the Ukrainian military, noting that front-line operations depended on the network.

**The operational backbone of Ukrainian defense**

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/abc4ccb4-c8c4-410c-b1cc-a7f40b331d08.jpg)