WASHINGTON — SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk ordered limits on Ukraine’s access to a military version of Starlink satellite internet, disrupting drone operations vital to repelling Russian attacks, according to a new report.
U.S. officials reported Tuesday that Musk chose to cap satellite internet speeds on Oct. 14 without consulting the White House. However, another source familiar with the interference claimed the tech mogul consulted senior administration figures and President Donald Trump before implementing the restrictions.
The military-grade variant, known as Starshield, is critical for Ukraine’s offensive and interceptor drone operations. Under the cap ordered by Musk, objects traveling faster than 100 mph were unable to connect with Starshield, creating significant interference.
The service disruption occurred as Russia launched drone attacks against Ukrainian power plants, violating an energy cease-fire brokered by Trump on Oct. 11. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed both the U.S. and SpaceX for the connectivity issues, which persisted through most of the following week.
Musk denied limiting access in an Oct. 14 post on X, writing that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government, and that any speed or usage limits are decided by the U.S. military and the president. Musk added that commercial Starlink usage is limited to civilian or defensive activities rather than offensive military actions.
Trump and other administration officials vehemently denied any U.S. interference. Speaking to reporters Friday before departing for a campaign trip to Georgia, Trump stated that he did not order the slowdown and doubted anyone in the administration was responsible. Reports from and The Telegraph offered conflicting accounts regarding whether Musk or the White House bore ultimate responsibility.
An administration official suggested the action stemmed from Pentagon freelancing rather than direct White House involvement. Last month, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth appointed Musk, along with Anduril founder Palmer Luckey and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, to a panel studying future warfare technologies called Project Meridian.
Zelensky maintained that the directive originated from the American government, noting that while the message came from U.S. authorities, SpaceX executed the technical limitation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed claims of a service lapse or restricted intelligence sharing as outrageous and untrue. Rubio characterized interruptions on Oct. 13 and Oct. 18 as technical matters rather than a U.S. directive to withhold strike warnings.
Tensions further escalated over a U.S.-brokered side deal for Russia to export diesel on Oct. 9. Ukraine criticized the arrangement for potentially funding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military efforts, while Trump defended the move as a measure to reduce global fuel prices. Following Zelensky’s public criticism of the action, Trump publicly suggested it was time for Ukraine to select a new president. Neither the White House nor SpaceX immediately responded to requests for comment.
