Starlink dispute sparks Musk’s strong reaction to Polish FM “Drooling Imbecile”

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk sharply responded to criticism from Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski regarding the Starlink dispute.

He posted on X, criticising Sikorski and claiming that the Polish minister failed to understand Starlink’s key role in supporting Ukraine’s military communications, Caliber.Az reports.

“This drooling imbecile doesn’t even realize that Starlink is the backbone of Ukraine military communications.”

This drooling imbecile doesn’t even realize that Starlink is the backbone of Ukraine military communications

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2026

On January 27, Sikorski urged Musk to prevent Russian forces from using Starlink satellites in Ukraine, writing on X: Hey, big man, Elon Musk, why don't you stop the Russians from using Starlinks to target Ukrainian cities. Making money on war crimes may damage your brand.” 

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. https://t.co/dGO6xdFagL

— Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@sikorskiradek) January 27, 2026

The post included a repost from the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which claims Russian forces are increasingly relying on Starlink to extend the range of their strike drones.

Russian forces are increasingly using Starlink satellite systems to extend the range of BM-35 strike drones to conduct mid-range strikes against the Ukrainian rear.

The reported 500-kilometer range of Starlink-equipped BM-35 drones places most of Ukraine, all of Moldova, and… https://t.co/VEsfveKRgO pic.twitter.com/fFJbvVCw9L

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) January 27, 2026

Ukrainian defence officials confirmed that Russian forces have been equipping attack drones with Starlink satellite communication terminals, allowing a deeper reach into Ukrainian territory and real‑time control of these drones, a capability that poses a growing battlefield risk.

According to investigations, Starlink terminals are reaching Russian units through third‑country parallel imports, bypassing direct sanctions, and have been found on various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including long‑range and tactical drones.

Technical analysis suggests that Ukraine lacks the means to block Russia’s access to Starlink, because disabling service for Russian users would also affect Ukrainian battlefield communications; only account‑level actions might be possible, but these require complex identification efforts.

By Jeyhun Aghazada