Overview

• Russian President Vladimir Putin compared Elon Musk to Sergei Korolev, the father of the Soviet space program, during a speech at Bauman University in Moscow.
• Putin described Musk as a rare visionary who is 'raving about Mars' and highlighted the transformative potential of his ideas, likening them to the groundbreaking achievements of Korolev.
• Musk, as head of SpaceX and a key adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, has become a significant figure in both aerospace innovation and global politics.
• Musk’s refusal in 2023 to allow Starlink to be used for a Ukrainian military operation in Crimea earned Putin’s praise but drew criticism from Ukrainian leaders.
• Musk has used his platform X to criticize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, question U.S. aid to Ukraine, and promote narratives that align with his evolving public stance on the conflict.