Musk fears Russian reprisals against Starlink satellites
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
Elon Musk says offensive use of Starlink in the war in Ukraine could expose SpaceX satellites to Russian reprisals. The company’s chief defended keeping the network’s role civilian in a reply posted on X on 25 October 2026, La Nouvelle Tribune reports.
Elon Musk, the head of SpaceX, believes that an offensive use of the Starlink satellite network in the war in Ukraine could expose the satellites to Russian reprisals. He presented this risk as one of the main reasons why Starlink should retain a civilian role, in a reply posted on X on Sunday 25 October 2026, according to his message cited by La Nouvelle Tribune.
Musk said that Starlink could support military infrastructure, but should not take part directly in clearly offensive strikes that could justify an attack on the network. The destruction of these satellites could create a vast field of debris and make some areas of space unusable, he warned.
Russia destroyed one of its former satellites with a Nudol anti-satellite missile during a test conducted on 15 November 2021. On 22 December 2025, the Associated Press also reported that two intelligence agencies from NATO member countries suspected Moscow of developing a weapon capable of scattering thousands of projectiles into the orbits used by Starlink.
Starlink provides communications to Ukrainian forces and civilians in areas where ground infrastructure has been damaged. Musk’s warning comes after Starlink restrictions in Ukraine reported on 23 October and the SpaceX chief’s statements about a possible shutdown of the service on 25 October.
