Finnish President Stubb asks Elon Musk to expand Starlink coverage for Ukraine so it can strike missile launchers on Russian territory

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has called on Elon Musk to expand Starlink satellite internet coverage so Ukraine can strike missile launchers on Russian territory, Reuters reported.

Stubb said Ukraine is having increasing trouble repelling Russian attacks as winter approaches because of a shortage of air defense systems.

“That’s why… I plead that Elon Musk would give the Ukrainians the possibility to ​use Starlink in areas where there are ballistic missile launchers, either in the occupied territory of Ukraine or in Russia ​for strategic purposes because that would save lives,” he said.

Ahead of winter, Stubb said, Ukraine needs three things: air defense systems (Starlink, he said, could be a useful tool for that “to a certain extent”); energy infrastructure; and money. “We’re working on putting up a winter package ​because I don’t see the war ending, you know, before the winter,” the Finnish president added.

Ukraine has long sought permission to use Starlink-equipped drones outside its own territory to strike targets in Russia. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s former defense minister, was among those who made such requests to Musk. According to reports from the Financial Times, Musk responded affirmatively at the time, though he said the decision was a political one that the White House would have to make.