Ukraine disputes Musk’s claim over Starlink restrictions
publishers 39articles 45first reported 21 Oct, 03:00 UTCdeveloping since 21 Oct · 10 editions
Ukraine has disputed Elon Musk’s claim that its military violated Starlink’s terms by using the satellite service for offensive drone strikes, after SpaceX temporarily restricted high-speed access in the country.
Musk said Saturday that Ukraine had used the civilian commercial service for attacks and that SpaceX had closed the alleged loophole. Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, responded Sunday that existing technical limits made the alleged use “physically impossible.” He said civilian Starlink does not operate over Russian territory and that Ukrainian drones using the service have long faced speed restrictions of 70 to 90 kilometers per hour, preventing medium- or long-range strikes.
Ukrainian officials said high-speed service for Starlink and Starshield, SpaceX’s military-focused network, had been restored Saturday. They had blamed the restrictions for disrupting drone-based air defenses during Russian attacks and said the changes were imposed without warning. Musk previously suggested the U.S. government was responsible, while President Donald Trump said he had no knowledge of the decision. SpaceX has not publicly explained why Ukraine was not notified in advance.
Rep. Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat, called Musk’s ability to restrict the service “beyond disturbing.” The episode has also intensified European efforts to reduce reliance on Starlink by supporting alternative satellite systems and considering new rules.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 150 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 39
- Source articles
- 45
- Given to the writer
- 8, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 150 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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