On August 26, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Elon Musk the Order of Freedom, one of Ukraine's highest state honors, citing Musk's "outstanding personal merits" in protecting human life and freedom and strengthening ties between Ukraine and the United States. Musk, founder of SpaceX, has been a prominent and debated private-sector figure in Ukraine's war effort. His decision to provide Ukraine with access to Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet network, was described as critical, and Starlink has remained a communications lifeline for Ukrainian forces and civilians since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.