SpaceX owner Elon Musk continues to refuse requests to allow Ukraine to use the Starlink satellite network for targeting strikes deep inside Russian territory, The Atlantic reported, citing sources.

According to the magazine, representatives linked to former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov approached Musk seeking approval for such use of the system. However, the request was reportedly rejected. One source told the publication that Musk has continued to argue that the priority should be reaching a negotiated settlement rather than escalating the conflict.

The report says Musk’s decision is driven by concerns that using Starlink to support long-range strikes could further escalate the war.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continue targeting Starlink terminals used by the Ukrainian military. According to Russian sources, the Sever group of forces destroyed more than 60 Starlink antennas in Ukraine’s Kharkiv Region during July.

Earlier, Russia’s Foreign Ministry publicly called on Musk to disable Starlink in the conflict zone, arguing that doing so could help prevent further loss of life. In March, Musk himself described Starlink as the «backbone of the Ukrainian army," saying that disabling the service could cause the front line to collapse.