Who Controls Starshield? DOD Faces Questions as Musk Points Finger at Trump
Elon Musk distanced himself and his SpaceX firm from Ukrainian-reported restrictions, saying the U.S. government has final say.
As Ukraine faced increased danger from Russia, questions arose regarding who could restrict Ukraine's access to Starshield, the military version of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite communications network. Ukraine's military version of Starlink, overseen by the U.S. government, was suddenly restricted when operating at speeds over 100 miles per hour.
This restriction severely disrupted Ukrainian drone operations and air defenses in the capital, Kyiv, during ongoing Russian attacks. Ukrainian officials expressed shock at the sudden changes to the Starshield system, raising concerns about U.S. support for Ukraine.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's former defense minister, confirmed that Starshield access was being restored, thanking Elon Musk for the action. However, Musk clarified that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government, meaning any limits are dictated by the U.S. military and ultimately the U.S. president. The White House has not publicly commented on the matter.
President Donald Trump's administration planned to reach out to SpaceX to investigate the incident. However, anonymous sources suggested the White House does not have control over SpaceX. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused SpaceX and the United States of blocking Ukraine's access to Starlink, stating that Ukraine was not alerted to Russian missile attacks in advance.
Trump claimed the U.S. was still sharing intelligence with Ukraine, but Ukrainian officials who recall the U.S. briefly severing intelligence access in early 2025 likely remain cautious.
The restrictions on Ukraine's access to Starshield have raised concerns about U.S. support for Ukraine against Russia, particularly ahead of a challenging winter for Ukraine's residents. Some, like Republican Senator Thom Tillis, have called for an immediate end to these restrictions, deeming them unacceptable errors or deliberate decisions to clear the way for a Russian attack.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov warned that reduced Starlink access would hinder Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian drones before they hit targets.
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