Ukraine News, Slava Ukraini!

Aug 8, 2026

This is what Ukraine’s “friends” look like.

According to The Atlantic, former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is still trying to persuade Elon Musk to allow Ukraine to expand the military use of Starlink.

The objective?

To help Ukraine strike Russian ballistic-missile launchers inside Russia — the same launchers being used to send missiles into Ukrainian cities.

According to two of Fedorov’s close allies cited by The Atlantic, Musk has so far refused.

Why?

Because he reportedly fears that allowing Ukraine to use Starlink this way could “escalate” the war.

One of Fedorov’s allies described Musk’s position very simply:

“Elon keeps saying it’s time to make a deal.”

Think about that.

Russia launches ballistic missiles at Ukrainian cities.

Ukraine does not have enough Patriot systems or interceptors to stop them all.

So Ukraine asks for the ability to attack the launchers BEFORE those missiles reach Ukrainian homes.

And apparently that is where the concern about “escalation” begins.

Not when Russia launches the ballistic missiles.

When Ukraine tries to destroy the launchers.

The irony is that Musk and Fedorov worked together earlier this year to restrict Russian forces’ unauthorized access to Starlink — a genuinely important contribution to Ukraine.

But when Ukraine asks to use the same technological advantage to help neutralize one of the weapons currently terrorizing its cities, the answer is reportedly no:

“It’s time to make a deal.”

Ukraine has heard variations of this argument throughout the war: don’t strike too far, don’t use this weapon there, don’t do something that might provoke Russia.

Meanwhile, Russia is apparently permitted to “escalate” every night.

Ukraine is simply expected to survive it.

Source: The Atlantic, 7 August 2026

https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/08/ukraine-war-zelensky-trump/688203/