Ukraine says Starshield back to normal; Musk says Kyiv violated terms

The Ukrainian government reported on 10th July that its military maintains a stable connection to Starlink satellite communications, despite a recent restriction imposed on its use. In response, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk accused the Ukrainian military of breaching the company's terms of service, specifically citing the use of the system for offensive drone strikes.

Neither Musk nor the US government, which operates Starshield using Starlink technology, acknowledged responsibility for the curbs. Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov confirmed that Ukraine was physically unable to utilize Starlink for long- and medium-range attack drone operations. The Starlink terminals, developed by Musk's SpaceX but managed by the US government, constitute a crucial component of Ukraine's military operations.

The imposition of speed restrictions, which limited operations to 160km/h (99mph), resulted in the failure of several combat missions and hampered Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian attack drones, leaving Russia to carry out ballistic missile strikes without advance warning. This decision coincided with a US deal to purchase Russian diesel, although Trump initially denied involvement.

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, distanced Trump from the decision, stating that the president has no authority over Starlink and Starshield. Musk took to social media to attribute the limitations to the Trump administration, claiming the systems are "owned and controlled by the US government." US Vice President, Joe Biden, supported Musk's stance, acknowledging that he "doesn't want to get in the middle of what is a war between two state actors."

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pointed the blame at both parties, emphasizing that the American government limited the speed, and SpaceX followed through with the restrictions. The restoration of Starlink and Starshield operations to their pre-restriction speeds was announced by Zelenskyy in a diplomatic video address, expressing gratitude to American allies for resolving the operational issue.