Ukraine Reports Continued Starlink Limits as Trump Denies Calling Musk
publishers 35articles 41first reported 11 Oct, 08:39 UTCdeveloping since 11 Oct · 20 editions
Ukrainian forces continued to report restrictions on satellite communications used for military drones on Friday, despite President Donald Trump’s statement a day earlier that Elon Musk had restored access.
The disruption began in mid-October, when Ukrainian users found that connected equipment moving faster than about 100 mph (161 km/h) lost service. Ukraine uses the network for drone operations, including interceptor drones deployed against Russian attack drones. Ukrainian officials said the speed limit remained in effect after Trump’s comments, although service had improved slightly in some areas.
Reports differed over whether Trump had personally intervened. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed officials, reported that Trump called Musk and asked him to lift the restrictions. Trump initially declined to confirm that account, saying Thursday that “the bottom line” was that Musk had restored access.
On Friday, however, Trump explicitly said he had not spoken with Musk. “I might have to, but I have not,” he told reporters, adding that he had heard the problem was fixed and would contact Musk if it was not. Trump also rejected concerns about Musk’s control over a system important to Ukraine’s military.
It remained unclear who imposed the restrictions or whether Ukraine uses Starshield, SpaceX’s military-focused service, rather than another Starlink arrangement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Ukraine did not currently have Starshield access and that a request for it was under discussion. Ukrainian officials said they had received no formal explanation for the slowdown.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 294 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 35
- Source articles
- 41
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 294 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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