KYIV: Ukraine’s military says a sudden restriction on SpaceX’s Starlink services has hampered its drone missions on the battlefield, and Washington and the company’s chief executive are now disputing who is responsible.
Ukrainian military officials said SpaceX began interrupting its military-grade terminals without warning when they were moving at high speed. The restrictions cut connectivity for drones and other vehicles traveling faster than 160 kilometers per hour. Kyiv has built SpaceX receivers into many of its drones as part of their onboard guidance systems.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russians were trying to exploit the problem. He noted that the operation of interceptor drones depends largely on the Starlink connection. He also clarified that Starlink was not shut down entirely, only slowed, and said the curbs affected frontline logistics, including drones that deliver food and water to soldiers.
Competing accounts
The Telegraph reported that Elon Musk approached President Donald Trump with a proposal to restrict Starlink speeds for Ukrainian forces, citing four sources familiar with the discussions. One source told the paper that Trump agreed, clearing the way for the Pentagon to act, while another said both men were involved. Reuters has reported that the order originated in the White House.
Musk has publicly pointed to the U.S. government. He wrote on X that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and, ultimately, the president. Trump said on Oct. 16 that he did not believe either he or Musk was responsible, and an anonymous U.S. official told AFP the president had not requested the reduction. The Pentagon has stayed silent.
Oversight and recovery
A bipartisan group of senators has asked the Pentagon’s inspector general to investigate whether anyone in the government issued such an order. Zelensky has reported a partial restoration of capabilities and said the White House has signaled that more will return.
The episode adds to long-running concerns in Kyiv about its reliance on a privately controlled network. Reuters reported in July, citing unnamed sources, that Musk ordered Starlink coverage deactivated over part of Kherson Oblast during Ukraine’s 2022 counteroffensive. Musk has previously denied ever disabling the terminals.