Musk says SpaceX restricted Ukraine’s Starlink connection as service restored

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, claimed that the company restricted Ukraine’s access to Starlink internet service after Ukrainian officials reported that connectivity issues had been resolved. Musk accused Ukraine of violating the terms of service by using Starlink for military activities, but denied any responsibility for a similar issue with SpaceX’s military-grade alternative, Starshield.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov dismissed Musk's claim as "very strange," stating that Starlink-operated drones in Ukraine have a speed restriction of 70-90 km/h and do not function on Russian territory. Ukraine employs both Starlink and Starshield services, with the latter providing real-time target tracking for drone operators. Kyiv reported that the military now has a stable connection, enabling drones to reach speeds greater than 400 km/h.

The service disruption emerged during a diplomatic dispute between the United States and Ukraine regarding Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Musk claimed that using Starlink for offensive drone strikes is prohibited, and SpaceX has taken steps to rectify this issue. The tech billionaire emphasized that Starshield is a separate system controlled by the U.S. government, and its actions are at its discretion.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara confirmed that the military now has a "stable connection," allowing drones to reach speeds exceeding 400 km/h. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed that the connection had been restored, enabling drones to operate at higher speeds. Musk did not provide further information on why SpaceX altered the service, despite Ukraine's previous reliance on Starlink for several years.

The connection issues coincided with a tense diplomatic standoff between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump over Ukrainian airstrikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Trump alleged that these strikes had driven global fuel prices higher, while fuel price increases are primarily attributed to the Iran war.

Facing his upcoming mid-term elections and domestic discontent over rising fuel prices, Trump waived some sanctions on Russia and reached an agreement with Moscow. This deal has been criticized by European allies as providing financial support to Russia's war effort. Zelensky had initially agreed to halt strikes targeting Russian oil facilities if Moscow ceased striking Ukraine's energy infrastructure; however, he resumed the strikes after Russia repeatedly ignored these demands.