Elon Musk Says It Was the Pentagon That Shut Down Starlink for the Ukrainian Military

In early 2022, SpaceX delivered thousands of Starlink broadband internet terminals to Ukraine following Russia's invasion. These terminals swiftly became essential for maintaining communication as many regions faced power outages and isolation. However, Elon Musk, SpaceX's CEO, has faced accusations of favoring both sides, with biographer Walter Isaacson alleging he ordered engineers not to activate Starlink near Crimea to disrupt what he termed a "mini-Pearl Harbor."

Recently, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky accused SpaceX of limiting access to its Starshield service, a military variant developed for the Pentagon. Despite accusations from both Musk and the White House, it's unclear who is responsible for the disruptions. Musk has since deflected blame, stating that Starshield is under US government control, but SpaceX insists it's a commercial service limited to civilian or defensive uses.

The timing of Zelensky's announcement coincided with a deal Trump struck with Putin, raising suspicions of political influence. Ukraine resumed attacks on Russian refineries after Starlink and Starshield services were restored, but the situation remains contentious.