Report Says Musk Ordered Starlink Restrictions Affecting Ukrainian Drones
publishers 18articles 21first reported 20 Oct, 20:38 UTCdeveloping since 21 Oct · 7 editions
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk ordered a restriction on the military version of Starlink used by Ukraine, disrupting drone operations and causing confusion in Kyiv and within the Trump administration, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials and people familiar with the decision.
According to the Journal, Musk made the final decision after speaking with President Donald Trump and White House officials. The restriction reportedly cut satellite internet connections when terminals traveled faster than 160 kilometers per hour, or 100 mph—a threshold commonly exceeded by Ukrainian drones using Starshield, SpaceX’s military service based on Starlink technology.
The cap forced affected drones to fly more slowly and rendered some offensive and interceptor drones nearly unusable, the Journal reported. The Associated Press previously reported that the unannounced restriction made Ukrainian drones easier for Russian forces to target or evade. Ukrainian officials said the change affected Starshield, although officials sometimes use the Starlink and Starshield names interchangeably when discussing military service.
Musk and Trump both denied responsibility. Trump said he did not order the restrictions and did not believe Musk had done so. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that reduced speeds put lives at risk.
Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Adam Schiff of California, called for an investigation into Musk following the Journal’s report, citing the consequences for Ukraine’s military operations.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 1 with the publisher's own text; 6 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 24 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- Source articles
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- Given to the writer
- 8, 1 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 6
- This version written
- 24 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- passed
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- none
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