Elon Musk has a simple response to being called a lifesaver by Ukraine: he's just trying to do the right thing.

The SpaceX founder reacted on Monday to former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov crediting SpaceX with blocking unauthorized Russian use of Starlink in Ukraine. In a CBS News interview, Fedorov said the intervention "protected our air defense, saved our air force, and spared thousands of civilian lives."

Musk's reply on X was characteristically brief: "Trying to do the right thing. I hope there is peace soon."

Fedorov didn't hold back in his praise, calling Musk "probably the most important tech person and entrepreneur in the world for our country." He also revealed that he remains in touch with Musk as Ukraine explores whether Starlink could help target Russian ballistic-missile launchers. "We need to defeat Russia in every technological cycle, and we have to make decisions 24/7," Fedorov said.

The relationship between Ukraine and Starlink goes back to Russia's 2022 invasion, when Fedorov publicly appealed to Musk to activate the service. Musk responded within hours, and Ukraine now relies on tens of thousands of terminals for battlefield communications and some drone missions. Musk later broadened Starlink's permitted use to "anything to help Ukraine."

According to a Reuters source, the recent crackdown on Russian Starlink use disrupted enemy communications and helped shift battlefield momentum. But a new threat looms: Moscow is accelerating its Rassvet satellite network, which Kyiv warns could eventually operate "like Starlink." A report last week said Russia targets 292 satellites by 2027 and 924 by 2035.

Musk's involvement hasn't always been smooth sailing with Kyiv. Reuters reported that he ordered Starlink coverage restricted during a 2022 Ukrainian counteroffensive amid fears of nuclear escalation. SpaceX later disputed that account and has maintained its commitment to Ukraine.

Despite that history, Fedorov described the latest cooperation as "an invaluable contribution to our defense." For now, Musk seems focused on the bigger picture: peace.