https://www.thedailybeast.com/musk-secretly-used-starlink-to-foil-ukrainian-drone-attack-on-russian-ships-report
The billlionaire allegedly feared the strike on Crimea could trigger nuclear war.
It takes an enormous amount of buy in. Democracy is a fragile system even at the best of times. It takes a lot to take people who disagree with each other to talk and haggle with each other long enough to make sensible things happen. And it can feel world-ending when your choice loses.
In times of crisis or uncertainty (like these past 10-15 years) some people might think they need a strongman to lead them. The problem with strongmen of course is that they surround themselves by yes-men and they never seem to know when to stop. I can sympathise with the people who want this, but I can't say I agree with the impulse.