Ukraine Says Starlink Service Restored After SpaceX Restricted Drone Use
publishers 44articles 52first reported 11 Oct, 08:39 UTCdeveloping since 11 Oct · 20 editions
Ukraine said its satellite internet service had returned to required speeds after Elon Musk said SpaceX restricted the country’s use of the civilian Starlink network for offensive drone operations.
Musk wrote Saturday on X that Ukraine’s military had violated Starlink’s terms by using the service for drone strikes. “That loophole was closed last week,” he said, while distinguishing Starlink from Starshield, a separate military system he said is controlled by the U.S. government.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that full service had been restored and that speeds were again “at the level we need.” Ukrainian officials had reported disruptions affecting drone operations roughly two weeks earlier.
President Donald Trump said Friday that he had not spoken with Musk about restoring access but would intervene if problems persisted. Trump said he had heard the issue was fixed and rejected suggestions that Musk held too much power over a communications system important to Ukraine’s defense.
The disruptions followed years of U.S. government requests for SpaceX to adjust Starlink availability in conflict zones. Reuters reported, citing six former senior U.S. officials, that both the Biden and Trump administrations had asked the company to activate or deactivate service in countries including Ukraine, Iran, Yemen and Lebanon. Those requests included expanding access to support Ukraine’s military and Iranian protesters, as well as restricting access by Iranian proxy groups.
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 348 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 44
- Source articles
- 52
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 348 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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