Musk ordered slowdown of Starlink service used by Ukraine's military, WSJ reports

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk ordered a reduction in the speed of SpaceX's military-grade Starlink satellite service in Ukraine. This information was reported on Tuesday, based on statements from US officials and people familiar with the situation. Musk, SpaceX, and the White House have not yet responded to requests for comment. The report could not be independently verified.

Ukraine relies on Starlink for battlefield communications and drone operations. The slowdown of the service has hindered Ukraine's efforts in attacking and defending against Russia with their air defense drones. Musk and US President Donald Trump discussed the decision to slow down Starlink in a call shortly after it became public. The two had also talked about the matter prior to this decision.

According to the report, the order to limit the satellite system originated from within the White House. Trump claimed last week that neither he nor Musk were responsible for Ukraine losing access to Starlink. Musk stated that any restrictions on speed or service would be detrimental.