{"id":2112343,"date":"2026-08-26T09:33:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T06:33:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2112343"},"modified":"2026-08-26T09:33:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T06:33:32","slug":"zelenskyy-awards-elon-musk-ukraines-order-of-freedom-despite-years-of-criticism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2112343","title":{"rendered":"Zelenskyy awards Elon Musk Ukraine\u2019s \u2018Order of Freedom\u2019 despite years of criticism"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/92\/53\/1200x675_cmsv2_1feb1ac4-7606-5ae0-8a5b-bc88c445b932-9889253.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2920134-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2920134\" data-cid=\"9886600\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920134-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/66\/00\/189x106_cmsv2_61fe47a0-d5c3-5b2a-a94d-0636f56a29e2-9886600.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People wait for Donald Trump to arrive at an event at the General Motors Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan, July 27, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    USA<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Data centre trap: Trump&#8217;s AI ambition puts Republicans on defensive\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920699-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2920699\" data-cid=\"9889665\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920699-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/95\/20\/189x106_cmsv2_f45a0896-cd09-5b31-96b4-4465f9fa24e7-9889520.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"An Air France plane takes off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Thursday 6 November 2025, in SeaTac, Washington state.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French flight attendant&#8217;s cancer recognised as occupational disease\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920635-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2920635\" data-cid=\"9889537\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920635-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/91\/74\/189x106_cmsv2_1bf7d854-5df5-5e66-ac00-5704ccf941eb-9889174.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"File photo showing a grey wolf at the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake, Minnesota. (AP Photo\/Dawn Villella, File)\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Wolf sightings rise in Italy after suspected attacks\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920216-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2920216\" data-cid=\"9887046\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920216-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/70\/46\/189x106_cmsv2_842e29ce-7a1d-5585-b548-94b51eaa432f-9887046.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The property takes its name from its former role as the porter house of the nearby Hotel des Postes et des T\u00e9l\u00e9graphes\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><span class=\"c-icon-gallery the-media-object__icon\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/images\/vector\/camera.svg\" width=\"21\" height=\"21\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Boutique heritage hotel set to open in the heart of Ghent\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920134-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2920134\" data-cid=\"9886600\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920134-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/66\/00\/189x106_cmsv2_61fe47a0-d5c3-5b2a-a94d-0636f56a29e2-9886600.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People wait for Donald Trump to arrive at an event at the General Motors Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan, July 27, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    USA<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Data centre trap: Trump&#8217;s AI ambition puts Republicans on defensive\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920699-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2920699\" data-cid=\"9889665\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920699-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/95\/20\/189x106_cmsv2_f45a0896-cd09-5b31-96b4-4465f9fa24e7-9889520.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"An Air France plane takes off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Thursday 6 November 2025, in SeaTac, Washington state.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French flight attendant&#8217;s cancer recognised as occupational disease\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920635-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2920635\" data-cid=\"9889537\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920635-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/91\/74\/189x106_cmsv2_1bf7d854-5df5-5e66-ac00-5704ccf941eb-9889174.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"File photo showing a grey wolf at the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake, Minnesota. (AP Photo\/Dawn Villella, File)\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Wolf sightings rise in Italy after suspected attacks\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920216-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2920216\" data-cid=\"9887046\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920216-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/70\/46\/189x106_cmsv2_842e29ce-7a1d-5585-b548-94b51eaa432f-9887046.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The property takes its name from its former role as the porter house of the nearby Hotel des Postes et des T\u00e9l\u00e9graphes\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><span class=\"c-icon-gallery the-media-object__icon\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/images\/vector\/camera.svg\" width=\"21\" height=\"21\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Boutique heritage hotel set to open in the heart of Ghent\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Zelenskyy awards Elon Musk Ukraine\u2019s \u2018Order of Freedom\u2019 despite years of criticism<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/92\/53\/1536x864_cmsv2_1feb1ac4-7606-5ae0-8a5b-bc88c445b932-9889253.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"FILE - Elon Musk speaks during an event with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington.\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              FILE &#8211; Elon Musk speaks during an event with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspSasha Vakulina\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1787736812\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-08-26 11:33:32 +02:00\">26\/08\/2026 &#8211; 11:33 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex 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src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Zelenskyy awarded Musk one of Ukraine\u2019s highest state honours, despite years of criticism from the South Africa-born tech mogul who has repeatedly attacked the Ukrainian president and questioned Kyiv\u2019s strategy.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded tech billionaire Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of Ukraine\u2019s most prestigious state honours, months after the SpaceX founder worked with Kyiv to block Russia\u2019s illegal use of Starlink \u2014 a move that disrupted Moscow\u2019s battlefield communications and helped slow the Russian advance.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The decree, published on Ukraine&#8217;s presidential website on Wednesday, cited Musk\u2019s \u201coutstanding personal merits in protecting human life and freedom\u201d and his contribution to relations between Ukraine and the US.<\/p>\n<p>The award marks a striking turn in the complicated relationship between Musk, Ukraine and the country\u2019s leadership, as Kyiv is critically dependent on his satellite technology amid repeated disagreements over the war and Musk\u2019s increasingly sharp criticism of Zelenskyy.<\/p>\n<p>Musk&#8217;s Starlink has been crucial to Ukraine since the first days of Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion, providing communications for civilians, government institutions and the military after conventional networks were damaged or destroyed.<\/p>\n<p>Musk activated the service over Ukraine in February 2022 after an appeal from then-Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. <\/p>\n<p>Tens of thousands of terminals have since become central to Ukrainian battlefield communications and increasingly to the operation of drones.<\/p>\n<p>But Russian forces also found ways to obtain Starlink terminals illegally, despite SpaceX saying it did not sell the service in Russia or do business with the Russian government or military.<\/p>\n<p>By early 2026 Kyiv officials said Russian forces were increasingly mounting the terminals on attack drones, giving operators a resilient connection that allowed the UAVs to fly at low altitude, resist electronic warfare and be controlled over longer distances.<\/p>\n<p>Kyiv appealed directly to SpaceX in February, and Musk responded publicly to Fedorov as Ukrainian and SpaceX engineers worked on measures to prevent Russia\u2019s unauthorised access.<\/p>\n<p>The intervention underscored the extraordinary role Musk and his companies have come to play in a war in which satellite communications are deeply integrated into military operations.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Musk\u2019s turbulent relationship with Ukraine<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Although Musk provided Starlink to Ukraine at a critical moment in 2022, disagreements soon emerged over how far the technology should be used in Ukrainian military operations.<\/p>\n<p>Musk repeatedly argued that Starlink was intended to provide communications rather than facilitate long-range attacks and has repeatedly said that its use in strikes on Russian targets could escalate the war.<\/p>\n<p>His restrictions had direct consequences on the battlefield. <\/p>\n<p>According to the 2025 media investigation, Musk ordered Starlink coverage shut down in parts of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory during Kyiv\u2019s 2022 counteroffensive, disrupting Ukrainian military operations. <\/p>\n<p>A separate controversy surrounded Crimea. Musk rejected a Ukrainian request to activate Starlink around Sevastopol for Ukraine\u2019s operations against Russia\u2019s Black Sea Fleet, saying he feared SpaceX would otherwise become \u201cexplicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The disagreements later became increasingly political.<\/p>\n<p>Musk repeatedly questioned continued Western support for Ukraine and argued that Kyiv should seek a negotiated end to the war. <\/p>\n<p>He also criticised Zelenskyy directly and backed calls for Ukraine to hold elections despite martial law, under which national elections have been suspended since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.<\/p>\n<p>The issue became particularly explosive after US President Donald Trump returned to the White House and began pressing Kyiv over elections while seeking to negotiate an end to the war with Moscow.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>New Starlink requests from Kyiv<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Kyiv has continued to work closely with SpaceX despite Musk\u2019s criticism.<\/p>\n<p>Starlink remains deeply embedded \u2014 and irreplaceable \u2014 in Ukraine\u2019s military communications, while its integration into drones has given Ukrainian forces a more resilient means of controlling unmanned systems in areas where conventional radio links are vulnerable to Russian electronic warfare.<\/p>\n<p>The technology has become particularly important for strikes in Russian-occupied Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have increasingly used drones to attack logistics routes, command positions and other military targets far behind the front line.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Ukraine contacts SpaceX over Russian drones allegedly using Starlink, officials say<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Musk\u2019s SpaceX and Ukraine\u2019s defence ministry to block Russia\u2019s use of Starlink <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ukraine is now seeking Musk\u2019s approval to extend the use of Starlink-equipped drones for strikes deep into Russia\u2019s territory. <\/p>\n<p>Kyiv believes the technology could allow its forces to hit mobile Russian and North Korean ballistic-missile launchers when they move into firing positions, potentially giving Ukraine another means of countering one of the most difficult threats facing its air defences.<\/p>\n<p>Musk has refused to approve it so far.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Poland forces Starlink U-turn over roaming price hike<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  EU to favour European satellite services to prevent Musk\u2019s Starlink expansion<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Musk\u2019s SpaceX and Ukraine\u2019s defence ministry to block Russia\u2019s use of Starlink <\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  starlink<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Ukraine<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  War in Ukraine<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Elon Musk<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2920483-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920483\" data-cid=\"9888429\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920483-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/84\/29\/320x180_cmsv2_5e425917-ead3-5200-a196-9cc70cb16c14-9888429.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Migrants board an Italian Coast Guard vessel as part of a transfer operation from the asylum processing centres at the port of Shengjin, Albania.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe&#8217;s obsession with return hubs may not live up to the hype<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2920295-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920295\" data-cid=\"9889255\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920295-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/73\/65\/320x180_cmsv2_ff827d0c-235e-55c5-9a75-a3a1b44f4247-9887365.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A serviceman of the 413th separate Ukrainian unmanned systems regiment &quot;Raid&quot; prepares an FP-1 long-range UAV for a strike on Russia, Ukraine, 16 August 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Putin signs decree allowing state seizure of drone-hit businesses<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2920655-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920655\" data-cid=\"9889294\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure 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m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920483\" data-cid=\"9888429\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920483-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/84\/29\/320x180_cmsv2_5e425917-ead3-5200-a196-9cc70cb16c14-9888429.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Migrants board an Italian Coast Guard vessel as part of a transfer operation from the asylum processing centres at the port of Shengjin, Albania.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe&#8217;s obsession with return hubs may not live up to the hype<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920295-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920295\" data-cid=\"9889255\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920295-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/73\/65\/320x180_cmsv2_ff827d0c-235e-55c5-9a75-a3a1b44f4247-9887365.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A serviceman of the 413th separate Ukrainian unmanned systems regiment &quot;Raid&quot; prepares an FP-1 long-range UAV for a strike on Russia, Ukraine, 16 August 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Putin signs decree allowing state seizure of drone-hit businesses<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920655-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920655\" data-cid=\"9889294\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920655-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/92\/94\/320x180_cmsv2_b0678745-c94d-536b-a439-05d8260d2c05-9889294.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Sweden&apos;s tactical police unit was on the scene.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Second arrest over deadly sword attack at Swedish school<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920695-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920695\" data-cid=\"9889516\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920695-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/95\/16\/320x180_cmsv2_ac3dc4c0-f977-5575-87ed-7a4a708043bd-9889516.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"WhatsApp and Signal are increasingly targets for hacking and phishing.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    State actors &#8216;tried to hack EU officials&#8217; messaging apps&#8217;<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920630-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920630\" data-cid=\"9889109\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920630-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/91\/09\/320x180_cmsv2_f6a22ab6-e441-5268-be33-809332ec40cb-9889109.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE. People gather in the Nvidia booth at the Mobile World Congress mobile phone trade show in Barcelona, Spain, Feb. 2014\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Nvidia earnings preview: The report the entire market is waiting on<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920528-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920528\" data-cid=\"9888725\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French man detained in Italy after three Akeron missiles found in van<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920328-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920328\" data-cid=\"9887542\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Conservatives, liberals call to freeze EU cash for Romania over mayor<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920346-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920346\" data-cid=\"9888068\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Drones and ships running blind as GPS malfunctions across Poland<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920497-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920497\" data-cid=\"9888498\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    306 people infected with salmonella in Belgium in egg-linked outbreak<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920473-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920473\" data-cid=\"9888358\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    CIA director Ratcliffe makes secret trip to Moscow, US reports claim<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded tech billionaire Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of Ukraine\u2019s most prestigious state honours, months after the SpaceX founder worked with Kyiv to block Russia\u2019s illegal use of Starlink \u2014 a move that disrupted Moscow\u2019s battlefield communications and helped slow the Russian advance.The decree, published on Ukraine&#8217;s presidential website on Wednesday, cited Musk\u2019s \u201coutstanding personal merits in protecting human life and freedom\u201d and his contribution to relations between Ukraine and the US.The award marks a striking turn in the complicated relationship between Musk, Ukraine and the country\u2019s leadership, as Kyiv is critically dependent on his satellite technology amid repeated disagreements over the war and Musk\u2019s increasingly sharp criticism of Zelenskyy.Musk&#8217;s Starlink has been crucial to Ukraine since the first days of Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion, providing communications for civilians, government institutions and the military after conventional networks were damaged or destroyed.Musk activated the service over Ukraine in February 2022 after an appeal from then-Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.\u00a0Tens of thousands of terminals have since become central to Ukrainian battlefield communications and increasingly to the operation of drones.But Russian forces also found ways to obtain Starlink terminals illegally, despite SpaceX saying it did not sell the service in Russia or do business with the Russian government or military.By early 2026 Kyiv officials said Russian forces were increasingly mounting the terminals on attack drones, giving operators a resilient connection that allowed the UAVs to fly at low altitude, resist electronic warfare and be controlled over longer distances.Kyiv appealed directly to SpaceX in February, and Musk responded publicly to Fedorov as Ukrainian and SpaceX engineers worked on measures to prevent Russia\u2019s unauthorised access.The intervention underscored the extraordinary role Musk and his companies have come to play in a war in which satellite communications are deeply integrated into military operations.Musk\u2019s turbulent relationship with UkraineAlthough Musk provided Starlink to Ukraine at a critical moment in 2022, disagreements soon emerged over how far the technology should be used in Ukrainian military operations.Musk repeatedly argued that Starlink was intended to provide communications rather than facilitate long-range attacks and has repeatedly said that its use in strikes on Russian targets could escalate the war.His restrictions had direct consequences on the battlefield.\u00a0According to the 2025 media investigation, Musk ordered Starlink coverage shut down in parts of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory during Kyiv\u2019s 2022 counteroffensive, disrupting Ukrainian military operations.\u00a0A separate controversy surrounded Crimea. Musk rejected a Ukrainian request to activate Starlink around Sevastopol for Ukraine\u2019s operations against Russia\u2019s Black Sea Fleet, saying he feared SpaceX would otherwise become \u201cexplicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation\u201d.The disagreements later became increasingly political.Musk repeatedly questioned continued Western support for Ukraine and argued that Kyiv should seek a negotiated end to the war.\u00a0He also criticised Zelenskyy directly and backed calls for Ukraine to hold elections despite martial law, under which national elections have been suspended since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.The issue became particularly explosive after US President Donald Trump returned to the White House and began pressing Kyiv over elections while seeking to negotiate an end to the war with Moscow.New Starlink requests from KyivKyiv has continued to work closely with SpaceX despite Musk\u2019s criticism.Starlink remains deeply embedded \u2014 and irreplaceable \u2014 in Ukraine\u2019s military communications, while its integration into drones has given Ukrainian forces a more resilient means of controlling unmanned systems in areas where conventional radio links are vulnerable to Russian electronic warfare.The technology has become particularly important for strikes in Russian-occupied Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have increasingly used drones to attack logistics routes, command positions and other military targets far behind the front line.Ukraine is now seeking Musk\u2019s approval to extend the use of Starlink-equipped drones for strikes deep into Russia\u2019s territory.\u00a0Kyiv believes the technology could allow its forces to hit mobile Russian and North Korean ballistic-missile launchers when they move into firing positions, potentially giving Ukraine another means of countering one of the most difficult threats facing its air defences.Musk has refused to approve it so far.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/08\/26\/zelenskyy-awards-elon-musk-ukraines-order-of-freedom-despite-years-of-criticism&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/92\/53\/1200x675_cmsv2_1feb1ac4-7606-5ae0-8a5b-bc88c445b932-9889253.jpg&#8221;] USA Data centre trap: Trump&#8217;s AI ambition puts Republicans on defensive Health news French flight attendant&#8217;s cancer recognised as occupational disease Europe News Wolf sightings rise in Italy after suspected attacks Travel News Boutique heritage hotel set to open in the heart of Ghent USA Data centre trap: Trump&#8217;s AI ambition puts [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2112343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2112343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2112343"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2112343\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2112343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2112343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2112343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}