Musk says SpaceX restricted Ukraine’s Starlink service as connectivity returns
publishers 93articles 135first reported 13 Oct, 19:15 UTCdeveloping since 14 Oct · 18 editions
Elon Musk said SpaceX restricted Ukraine’s commercial Starlink service after accusing its military of violating terms that prohibit using the network for offensive drone strikes. His acknowledgment came as Ukrainian officials reported that Starlink and the military-grade Starshield service had returned to normal operating speeds.
Musk wrote on X that a “loophole” permitting prohibited use had been closed the previous week. He distinguished Starlink from Starshield, saying the latter is controlled by the U.S. government and denying responsibility for its disruption. Ukrainian officials said restrictions lasting more than a week had limited connections on fast-moving drones, hindering battlefield operations and efforts to intercept Russian drones.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevheniy Khmara said monitoring systems recorded stable connections at speeds above 400 kilometers per hour. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the restored service was important for frontline logistics and air defense.
Ukrainian officials disputed Musk’s account. Presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov said commercial Starlink terminals already faced speed limits and did not operate over Russian territory, making their use for medium- or long-range strikes physically impossible. Former Defense Ministry adviser Serhii Sternenko said mobile drone operations requiring satellite communications could use only registered Starshield terminals.
The restoration followed President Donald Trump’s statement that he had asked Musk to lift the restrictions. Trump and other U.S. officials denied ordering the slowdown, while Musk had previously attributed the Starshield limits to the U.S. government.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 7 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 282 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- This version written
- 282 h after the record first saw the story
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