With Patriot Missile Shortages, Kyiv Bets on Starlink to Enhance Strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking U.S. President Donald Trump’s backing to convince SpaceX to allow Ukraine to use the Starlink satellite communications network for conducting strikes inside Russian territory—a move reflecting Kyiv’s efforts to strengthen its military capabilities amid the continuing war with Moscow.

According to a report by Associated Press, Zelensky directly raised this request during his meeting with Trump in the Oval Office during his recent visit to Washington, and reiterated it during meetings with members of Congress, emphasizing that expanding Starlink’s use would give Ukrainian forces greater precision in targeting locations within Russia.

This move comes as Ukraine faces mounting challenges in acquiring U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, with continued pressure on American stockpiles due to conflict in the Middle East.

As per the report, Zelensky aims to reduce reliance on these systems by developing more precise offensive capabilities, leveraging the Starlink network, which provides high-efficiency satellite communications for Ukrainian forces.

Elon Musk had previously allowed Starlink use within Ukrainian territory, including areas under Russian occupation, but maintained restrictions on using the network for operations inside Russian territory.

Despite Zelensky repeating his request to U.S. officials over recent weeks, the report indicates that Trump has offered no commitment to approve the request, and no official comment has been issued by the White House, Ukrainian embassy, or SpaceX.

Meanwhile, Trump appears to have reversed his previous pledge to allow Ukraine to locally produce Patriot missiles, stating that the matter remains under study and that transferring this technology represents a highly sensitive decision.

Starlink at the Heart of the Conflict

Officials and experts believe expanding Starlink’s use could carry additional risks, especially given intelligence reports indicating that Russia is developing anti-satellite capabilities targeting the Starlink constellation, which has played a pivotal role in maintaining Ukrainian military and civilian communications since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Intelligence assessments, according to Associated Press, indicate that Moscow views the Starlink network as a strategic threat to its military capabilities, explaining its interest in developing ways to disrupt it.

During his meetings with members of Congress, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine needs to use Starlink to improve the accuracy of its long- and medium-range missile systems, enabling more precise targeting of military objectives.

Senator Mike Rounds, Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Zelensky made clear to lawmakers that Ukraine needs these capabilities “to hit the target accurately, not just reach the area around it.”

Zelensky also reiterated his demand for more Patriot missiles and an agreement allowing their production within Ukraine, asserting that these needs represent top priorities for defending the country.

Zelensky also used his visit to Washington to highlight Ukraine’s experience countering Iranian-made drones used by Russia, affirming that Kyiv can assist the United States and its allies in the Middle East in confronting this type of threat.

According to the report, Zelensky informed U.S. officials that Ukraine possesses advanced expertise in unmanned warfare and can transfer this knowledge to Washington, particularly as the use of Iranian drones escalates in the region.

Zelensky also noted that he has information suggesting Russia is providing Iran support in satellite reconnaissance and surveillance, which Kyiv intends to share with the U.S. administration.

Experts believe these moves are part of Ukraine’s broader effort to strengthen its military partnership with the United States and convince the Trump administration that supporting Kyiv serves not only the war against Russia but also addresses shared security challenges related to Iran and drone networks.