Elon Musk restricted Ukraine’s Starlink access after military ‘violated’ terms

SpaceX intentionally slowed its Starlink satellite internet network in Ukraine, owner Elon Musk confirmed on Saturday, hindering military efforts essential for the nation's defense against ongoing Russian aggression.

The tech mogul acknowledged the decision online shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that connectivity across both Starlink and Starshield services had returned to previous levels following a week-long disruption to combat operations.

Uncertainty had mounted over the past week regarding who authorized the service slowdowns affecting the critical communications network, which Kyiv has depended upon throughout its conflict with Moscow.

"The speeds are now where they need to be," Zelenskyy posted on X, explaining that connection upgrades overnight helped stabilize military supply lines and strengthen countermeasures against Russia's jet-propelled Shahed drones by Saturday morning.

Musk admits he was behind Starlink’s speed restriction

Elon Musk has addressed the speed restrictions placed on Starlink after Ukraine confirmed service restoration. Writing on X on Saturday, Musk acknowledged that SpaceX throttled the satellite internet service.

"Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be," Musk wrote. "Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week."

He maintained that the U.S. government directed any adjustments to Starshield, the defense-focused Starlink variant supporting Ukraine's communications and drone operations. Musk also defended SpaceX's efforts to bolster Ukrainian defense since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The Starshield restrictions alarmed Ukrainian officials and military personnel, with commanders reporting lost drones and interrupted missions.

Restoration came alongside fresh U.S. diplomatic efforts to end the war. Russia agreed Wednesday to resume trilateral talks with Washington and Kyiv next month.

On Friday, both nations accepted a local ceasefire brokered by first lady Melania Trump around Oleshky, a damaged, Russian-occupied town in southern Ukraine's Kherson region.