Musk says US government may be behind slowdown of Ukraine drone speeds

Elon Musk hinted that the United States government could be responsible for slowing down the speed of Ukraine's drones and limiting their connectivity to SpaceX's Starlink internet network. On Tuesday night, Ukraine reported that new restrictions were hindering their battlefield operations. A Zelensky aide claimed the restrictions were likely intentional and linked to the recent tensions between Kyiv and Washington.

Musk clarified that Starshield, a military-grade version of Starlink, is controlled by the U.S. government, and "any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately [the US president]." Following pleas for help, including from Zelensky, Starlink temporarily lifted its speed restrictions, allowing drones to travel faster than 100mph (160km/h).

However, Ukraine's former defense minister emphasized that completely removing the speed limit is crucial for Ukraine's defense. Musk defended his company's role, stating that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government, and any speed or usage limits are determined by the U.S. military and the president. The U.S. government has not addressed these allegations.

The restrictions emerged as Russia carried out aggressive strikes against Ukraine, causing casualties in Kyiv and damaging strategic infrastructure. Zelensky described this as one of the largest attacks by Russia, and while some drones were intercepted, others managed to strike. At least 600,000 Ukrainians were left without power, with many reporting no warning before the drones arrived.

Zelensky accused the U.S. of threatening to cut intelligence sharing if he didn't agree to Trump's energy ceasefire proposal, but Trump denied these claims. During his visit to London, Zelensky reported feeling betrayed by the U.S. deal with Russia to import diesel fuel. Prior to his arrival, UK Prime Minister Anthony Browne pledged continued support for Ukraine, including the delivery of new missiles to counter Russian drone attacks.