Ukraine is seeking Elon Musk’s permission to use Starlink-equipped drones to strike Russian ballistic-missile launchers as far as 200 km inside Russia, the Financial Times reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Kyiv is exploring the option as its stocks of Patriot interceptors dwindle amid intensified Russian ballistic attacks. The shortage reflects limited global production and pressure on US inventories from the war with Iran. Starlink would allow Ukrainian drones to retain reliable communications over much greater distances while reducing their vulnerability to conventional jamming. BUt approval remains uncertain. Musk has previously restricted Ukraine’s use of Starlink for offensive operations, while Kyiv recently lost its principal channel to the billionaire after defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov was dismissed.
