Musk admits to seven-day throttle of Ukraine's Starlink speeds
SpaceX restored full satellite internet capacity Saturday after a week of restrictions that Ukrainian officials said disrupted drone missions and front-line logistics.
By Hassan Lawson ·
Ukrainian forces faced reduced satellite internet speeds for more than a week before SpaceX restored full access on Saturday morning. The service disruption affected Starlink terminals used by the Ukrainian military for communications and drone operations.
Elon Musk confirmed on X that he ordered the speed limits. He stated that the company found a loophole where the Ukrainian military used the civilian commercial service for offensive drone strikes. Musk argued that using Starlink to kill people was not permitted under the terms of service. He said the loophole was closed last week, which triggered the initial slowdown.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that speeds returned to normal overnight. He noted that the restoration was complete by Saturday morning. Zelenskyy said the changes improved front-line logistics and defense against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones. He described the restrictions as having hampered operations for over a week.
Musk maintained that the U.S. government controlled changes to Starshield, the military-grade version of the system. He defended SpaceX's role in supporting Ukraine's defenses since the invasion began in February 2022. Ukrainian commanders reported lost drones and disrupted missions during the period of reduced speeds.
The resolution occurred as U.S. diplomatic efforts to end the war intensified. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way talks with Washington and Kyiv next month. Kyiv and Moscow also agreed to a localized ceasefire around Oleshky in the Kherson region, a move brokered by First Lady Melania Trump on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he did not make the call to throttle speeds but added that Musk should not be blamed. Vice President JD Vance hinted at White House coordination with Musk. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied any administration involvement in the decision.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara credited direct dialogue and Zelenskyy's diplomacy for the outcome. He emphasized that the restoration mattered most for military drones, logistics, and communications on the front lines.
Source: CBC News
