Musk Calls Sikorski “Drooling Imbecile” in Starlink War Row
AI Analysis
The article highlights a dispute between Elon Musk and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski over the use of Starlink by Russian forces to guide drone attacks in Ukraine. Musk defended Starlink as critical to Ukraine's military operations, while Sikorski criticized its role in enabling Russian drone strikes.
Key Takeaways
- Russian forces are reportedly using Starlink systems to enhance the range and accuracy of drones like BM-35, Shahed, and Molniya.
- Elon Musk defended Starlink as essential to Ukraine's military communications, calling it the 'backbone' of their operations.
- Poland's Foreign Minister criticized Musk, accusing him of profiting from war crimes, leading to a heated exchange.
- Poland contributes $50 million annually to Ukraine's Starlink service but warned of seeking alternatives if SpaceX becomes unreliable.
- The perception of Starlink's dominance in satellite communications has influenced the market, with competitors like Eutelsat seeing increased investor interest.
Why It Matters
The use of Starlink by both Ukrainian and Russian forces underscores the dual-use nature of commercial satellite technology in modern warfare. This raises questions about the regulation of such technologies and their role in enabling or mitigating drone warfare, with significant implications for military strategy and geopolitical stability.
Elon Musk called Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski a “drooling imbecile” on Wednesday after Sikorski shared a report from the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) showing that Russian forces are increasingly using Starlink satellites to guide drone attacks on Ukraine.
According to ISW, Russian forces are equipping drones – including BM-35, Shahed, and Molniya models – with Starlink systems to extend their range and accuracy.
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
Starlink-equipped drones can strike most of Ukraine and reach parts of Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Lithuania when launched from Russian-controlled territory.
After reposting the report, Sikorski tweeted: “Hey, big man, @elonmusk, why don’t you stop the Russians from using Starlinks to target Ukrainian cities? Making money on war crimes may damage your brand.”
Musk responded sharply, calling Sikorski a “drooling imbecile” and defending Starlink as “the backbone of Ukraine military communications.”
This drooling imbecile doesn’t even realize that Starlink is the backbone of Ukraine military communications
Musk and Sikorski have a history of public disputes over Starlink’s role in Ukraine. In October 2025, Musk commented on the possibility of limiting Ukraine’s access to the satellite network.
He wrote on X: “My Starlink System is the backbone of the Ukrainian army. Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off.”
Sikorski responded, warning: “If SpaceX proves to be an unreliable provider, we [Poland] will be forced to look for other suppliers.”
He noted that Poland pays $50 million annually for Ukraine’s Starlink service.
Musk replied sharply: “Be quiet, small man. You pay a tiny fraction of the cost. And there is no substitute for Starlink.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in, saying: “No one has made any threats about cutting Ukraine off from Starlink,” and criticizing Sikorski for spreading misinformation.
Rubio added that without Starlink, “Ukraine would have lost this war long ago, and Russians would be on the border with Poland right now.”
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Starlink has been a key communications tool for Ukraine, connecting frontline units and liberated territories. Musk has repeatedly defended his technology, saying it is essential to the Ukrainian military.
The perception that Starlink is the only provider able to support Ukraine’s satellite communications has affected the market.
Shares of Franco-British satellite operator Eutelsat, a potential alternative, surged as much as 650% in early March 2025, reflecting investor interest in satellite communications amid the war.
Alisa is the Head of News and a correspondent at Kyiv Post, where she leads the newsroom’s coverage of breaking events and global developments. With over seven years of experience in TV journalism, Alisa has reported on international and Ukrainian politics, making complex stories easier to understand. Back in September 2022, Alisa joined the Kyiv Post team.