{
  "id": 16404646,
  "title": "Musk says he was behind Starlink's slowdown in Ukraine",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/musk-says-he-was-behind-starlinks-slowdown-in-ukraine",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T00:44:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hill",
    "slug": "the-hill",
    "url": "https://thehill.com/policy/international/6170415-musk-starlink-ukraine-slowdown/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Elon Musk stated on X that the Ukrainian military violated Starlink terms of service by using the system for offensive drone strikes to kill people, noting that the \"loophole\" was closed last week. The Hill reports that this slowdown impacted Ukraine's military capabilities. While Musk's comments addressed the restrictions, neither he nor the U.S. government had previously taken responsibility for imposing the curbs, according to The Korea Times, Channel News Asia, and The Guardian US.\n\nUkraine reported on Saturday that both the Starlink satellite system and its military version, Starshield, are now fully functional following more than a week of restrictions. The Guardian US noted that sudden speed restrictions on the terminals led to the failure of several combat missions earlier this month. Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov stated on Telegram that the country is physically unable to use Starlink for long- and medium-range attack drone operations.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Interfax-Ukraine",
        "title": "Defense Ministry records cases of Starlink losing connection at 161 km/h – sources",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/defense-ministry-records-cases-of-starlink-losing-connection-at-161",
        "published": "2026-10-23T08:27:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Voice of Ukraine",
        "title": "Ukraine's Defense Ministry reports Starlink terminals working again at speeds above 161 km/h",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/ukraines-defense-ministry-reports-starlink-terminals-working-again-at",
        "published": "2026-10-24T11:54:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Ukraine says Starlink at normal speed after delays impede military",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/ukraine-says-starlink-at-normal-speed-after-delays-impede-military",
        "published": "2026-10-24T13:09:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ukrinform - Politics",
        "title": "Starlink and Starshield back to required speeds – Zelensky",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/starlink-and-starshield-back-to-required-speeds-zelensky",
        "published": "2026-10-24T14:15:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Moscow Times",
        "title": "Starlink in Ukraine Back to Normal After Week of Throttling",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/starlink-in-ukraine-back-to-normal-after-week-of-throttling",
        "published": "2026-10-24T15:18:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Ukraine's Starlink satellite speeds restored after a week of front-line disruption",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/ukraines-starlink-satellite-speeds-restored-after-a-week-of-front",
        "published": "2026-10-24T16:05:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Ukraine depends on Starlink - can Europe plug the gap?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/ukraine-depends-on-starlink-can-europe-plug-the-gap",
        "published": "2026-10-24T23:00:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}