Strikes on launchers: Former defense minister Fedorov tries to persuade Musk to help Ukraine
Photo: Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Elon Musk (RBC-Ukraine collage)
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is trying to maintain contacts with Elon Musk after leaving office. Ukraine needs SpaceX's assistance to help locate and destroy Russia's ballistic missile launchers, The Atlantic reports.
The outlet notes that, according to unnamed sources, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought Elon Musk's assistance during his most recent meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House.
According to the report, Zelenskyy wants to use the Starlink system to help target and strike missile batteries that launch ballistic missiles at Ukrainian cities.
The Atlantic reports that Trump did not give Zelenskyy a definitive response.
People close to former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said that after leaving office, he has been trying to reach Musk through informal channels, but the SpaceX owner has so far been unwilling to change his position.
As of now, there is no positive decision, one source told the magazine.
According to the source, Musk continues to argue with Fedorov about the risk of further escalation by Russia.
The source added that Elon keeps saying that it's time to make a deal.
Russians cut off from Starlink
The Atlantic notes that Fedorov managed to persuade Musk in late January to disable Russian access to Starlink during a phone call.
The move reportedly helped Ukraine regain the initiative on the battlefield and launch counteroffensive operations. Several hundred square kilometers of territory were subsequently liberated from Russian forces.
Ballistic missile challenge
Reports that Zelenskyy has been seeking Musk's assistance to help destroy Russian ballistic missile launchers first emerged last week. There has been no official confirmation of such requests.
The reports come amid Ukraine's acute shortage of anti-ballistic missile capabilities. Ukraine currently lacks sufficient means to intercept Russian ballistic missiles.
At the same time, the Ukrainian president stressed this week that the military understands the need to destroy enemy launchers and will continue efforts to target them.
