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Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk allegedly ordered a deliberate reduction in Ukraine’s critical military Starlink network, sparking widespread concern in Kyiv and leaving the US administration perplexed, according to The Wall Street Journal. Pentagon officials dismissed claims that Washington ordered any cuts or limitations to the military-grade Starshield satellite network utilized by Ukraine.

During a press conference, Pentagon spokesperson Pete Hegseth emphatically denied that the US government instructed any modifications to the satellite service. He reaffirmed that no directives or actions were taken by the US military. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also refuted Washington's involvement in the reported disruption of Starlink connectivity in Ukraine, clarifying that Starlink is a commercial product, not controlled by the White House.

He emphasized that Ukraine lacks access to the military product Starshield, which is managed by the US military. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed frustration over the reported slowdown, accusing Musk of restricting access to Starlink during an interview. Ukrainian forces rely on Starlink for reconnaissance, drone operations, intelligence gathering, and other military activities.

Starlink speeds of up to 160 km/h have reportedly been restored, with Ukrainian officials calling for the removal of restrictions to enhance Ukraine's defense capabilities.