Trump Denies Role in Restrictions on Ukraine’s Starshield Service
publishers 20articles 23first reported 11 Oct, 08:39 UTCdeveloping since 11 Oct · 20 editions
President Donald Trump denied ordering restrictions on Ukraine’s access to Starshield, the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network, and said he did not believe SpaceX chief Elon Musk was responsible. Trump told reporters he had checked the service Friday morning and that it was working normally, adding that he was unsure whether it had stopped working.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that the military’s service was improving but had not returned to its previous speed limits. He called the reduction a “very dangerous and unpleasant surprise.” Ukrainian personnel first reported restrictions on October 14, saying slower connections disrupted some military operations, including drone missions.
Accounts of who authorized the restrictions differ. Reuters reported, citing two U.S. officials and a Western official, that an unidentified White House official ordered Starshield to be slowed and that the Pentagon was informed of the decision. Axios cited a senior administration official who said the White House was not involved. The Telegraph, as reported by The New Republic, cited anonymous sources saying Musk proposed the restrictions and Trump agreed.
A bipartisan group of senators asked the Pentagon inspector general to investigate whether Defense Department or other U.S. officials directed or authorized changes to Starlink, Starshield or intelligence-sharing arrangements affecting Ukraine. The lawmakers said the reduced connectivity hampered Ukraine’s ability to operate military aircraft and defend against Russian attacks.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 132 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 20
- Source articles
- 23
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 132 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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