Ukraine’s Starlink Access Restricted At Trump’s Order, Says Musk
SpaceX owner Elon Musk has said the US government ultimately decides restrictions on its military satellite communications system, as Ukraine reported disruptions to critical drone operations amid worsening relations with US President Donald Trump.
“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” Musk wrote on X on Thursday.
His remarks followed complaints from Ukrainian officials that sudden Starlink restrictions had disrupted military missions overnight on October 13-14. Connectivity reportedly dropped when terminals exceeded speeds of around 160 kilometres per hour, affecting drones used for reconnaissance, battlefield logistics and intercepting Russian aerial threats.
Former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said connectivity was being restored at speeds of up to 160 kmph but argued that removing the restrictions entirely was critical for Ukraine’s defence.
The distinction between Starlink and Starshield is central to the controversy. Starlink is SpaceX’s commercial satellite internet service, while Starshield is its military-focused system developed for government use. Musk said commercial Starlink was controlled by SpaceX and restricted to civilian or defensive activities, whereas the US government controlled Starshield’s operational limits.
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said it was contacting the United States, SpaceX and NATO partners to investigate the disruption. Officials were also examining alternative communication channels after several missions were affected.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed anger over the sudden change, saying Ukraine was losing a strong partner. He warned that the restrictions could lead to additional casualties as Russian attacks continued.
The controversy comes amid growing friction between Kyiv and Washington following Trump’s reported diesel supply arrangement with Russia and his push for Ukraine to stop attacking Russian energy infrastructure. Trump has blamed Ukrainian strikes for rising diesel prices, while Kyiv has accused Moscow of continuing attacks despite the proposed energy truce.
Ukraine has also reported missing early warnings about Russian ballistic missile attacks. However, the circumstances surrounding intelligence-sharing remain disputed, and reports have not established that Washington formally halted all intelligence cooperation.
The sudden connectivity restrictions have raised concerns in Kyiv about its dependence on US-controlled technology for battlefield communications and air defence, as Ukraine continues to face Russian attacks.