Elon Musk ordered a reduction in Starshield services for Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. The newspaper said Musk had also said that any limits on the SpaceX-operated communications system would ultimately have come from the president. The report cited anonymous US officials and people familiar with the matter.
According to the Journal, Musk capped the speed at which Ukrainian equipment could connect to the system. That restriction left some of Kyiv’s drones unable to work effectively. Musk had earlier said that “any limits on speed or usage” of Starshield were “decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” a reference to Trump.
Kyiv’s accusations and Washington’s denials
Kyiv has accused Washington of deliberately slowing the speeds needed to use Starshield effectively. Trump denied that charge last week, saying he had not requested any curbs. “It wasn’t me. And I don’t think it was Elon,” he said.
Also read: Rubio says Starshield not available to Ukraine for now
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that the Pentagon had not ordered any changes to Starshield. “We haven’t pulled anything back,” he said. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington had no advance knowledge of the slowdown. Speaking during his trip to India, Rubio described SpaceX as a private company that the president cannot direct.
Ukraine’s reliance on Starshield amid rising tensions
Ukraine uses Starshield, Starlink’s military-grade satellite service, for battlefield communications, mid-range strikes on Russia-occupied territory and its interceptor drones. It also relies on SpaceX’s civilian Starlink satellite system. Kyiv reported restrictions to the service last week, shortly after Trump criticized Ukraine and urged it to stop targeting Russian oil refineries.
Relations between Washington and Kyiv have grown increasingly strained in recent days. Trump has called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be replaced after Zelensky criticized a US deal that allows more Russian diesel into global markets.
