Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of the country's highest state honors for foreign nationals, through a presidential decree published Wednesday.

The decree, numbered 835/2026, cited Musk's "outstanding personal contributions to protecting human life and freedom" and his role in developing relations between the peoples of Ukraine and the United States. It identified him as an entrepreneur, engineer, and head of SpaceX and Tesla.

Musk's company SpaceX activated Starlink satellite internet service over Ukraine shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. The terminals have served as a critical lifeline for Ukrainian forces, enabling reliable communications in areas where terrestrial networks were destroyed and supporting drone operations on the battlefield.

In February 2026, SpaceX disabled thousands of unauthorized Starlink terminals used by Russian forces, a move that disrupted their communications and drone capabilities at the request of then-Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.

Ukraine continues to press for expanded Starlink access over Russian territory to improve the precision of strikes against missile launchers and other targets deep inside Russia. Zelenskyy has noted Musk's past concerns about escalation but indicated recent feedback appeared more positive.

The Order of Freedom ranks among Ukraine's top honors and has previously gone to foreign leaders including Polish President Andrzej Duda. Musk has not yet publicly commented on the award.