{
  "id": 14987706,
  "title": "Trump did not order Starshield curbs for Ukraine, says US official",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/trump-did-not-order-starshield-curbs-for-ukraine-says-us-official",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T15:56:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/16/trump-did-not-order-curb-to-starshield-for-ukraine"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A US official has stated that President Donald Trump did not order a reduction in Starshield services for Ukraine, despite Elon Musk's claims that such limits would ultimately come from the president. Kyiv reported restrictions to the SpaceX-operated service on Wednesday, shortly after Trump criticized Ukraine and urged it to cease targeting Russian oil refineries. The US official emphasized that no such request was ever made by the president when questioned about the alleged order, according to anonymous sources. Musk has claimed that any limits on speed or usage of SpaceX's Starshield systems were decided by the US military and ultimately the president, referring to Trump. Ukraine uses Starshield, Starlink's military-grade satellite service, for battlefield communications, mid-range strikes on Russia-occupied territory, and interceptor drones. It also relies on SpaceX's civilian Starlink satellite system. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, reported on Friday that the service was being restored, with his partners informing him that the administration and White House sent a message to SpaceX requesting them to do so. Tensions between Washington and Kyiv have escalated in recent days, with Trump calling for Zelensky's replacement after the Ukrainian leader criticized a US deal allowing more Russian diesel into global markets.",
  "summary": "Tech billionaire Elon Musk says any limits on the communications system would ultimately have come from US president Donald Trump.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Anne Applebaum on the contradiction of Trump’s support of Russia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/anne-applebaum-on-the-contradiction-of-trumps-support-of-russia",
        "published": "2026-10-16T15:23:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "Of course Trump is helping Russia in Ukraine – he’s a master of the art of betrayal | Jonathan Freedland",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/of-course-trump-is-helping-russia-in-ukraine-hes-a-master-of-the-art",
        "published": "2026-10-16T15:30:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Trump did not order Starshield curbs for Ukraine, says US official",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/trump-did-not-order-starshield-curbs-for-ukraine-says-us-official-14990243",
        "published": "2026-10-16T15:56:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Ukraine pushes Russia back on front line where Starlink has played key role",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/ukraine-pushes-russia-back-on-front-line-where-starlink-has-played",
        "published": "2026-10-16T16:00:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "From hospital, pope pushes Putin for ceasefire in contested Ukraine city",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/from-hospital-pope-pushes-putin-for-ceasefire-in-contested-ukraine",
        "published": "2026-10-16T16:37:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "From hospital, Pope Leo pushes Putin for ceasefire in contested Ukraine city",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/from-hospital-pope-leo-pushes-putin-for-ceasefire-in-contested",
        "published": "2026-10-16T17:47:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}