Musk says any limits on Ukraine’s Starlink access down to US, not his firm

Elon Musk indicated that the United States may be responsible for the speed limiting imposed on certain weapons traveling through Ukraine’s Starlink satellite internet system.

Starlink serves as a crucial lifeline for Kyiv, enabling drone coordination targeting Russian forces and supporting airspace surveillance, yet sudden speed restrictions on Tuesday disrupted key battle operations.

A senior aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that the new limitations were unlikely to be accidental and linked to escalating tensions between Kyiv and Washington.

Elon Musk stated that Starshield—the U.S.-government‑run military subsidiary of Starlink—is subject to policies set by the American Armed Forces and ultimately determined by the U.S. President.

Musk posted on X, addressing urgent appeals from Ukrainian officials—including President Zelensky—to restore internet connectivity, asking to reverse the recent curtailment.

SpaceX’s Starlink platform imposed a Tuesday night speed cap of 100 mph (160 km/h); drones exceeding this threshold lost the ability to connect to the constellation.

By late Wednesday, former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported that the throttling had been partially lifted.

“Eliminating Starshield’s speed restriction entirely is now essential for Ukraine’s defense,” he wrote on X, expressing thanks to Elon Musk and requesting his continued backing.

Shortly thereafter, Musk responded to the tweet, vigorously defending the company’s role in the constrained service.

In a follow‑up response, Musk emphasized that Starshield is wholly owned and operated by the United States, and that policy decisions regarding speed or usage rest with the American defense establishment and ultimately President Joe Biden.

He further clarified that Starlink’s intended purpose is civilian or defensive assistance and is expressly prohibited from being employed for offensive warfare, deeming such an application unsuitable for a private enterprise.

The United States government has issued no official statement on the matter.

Although both entities share roots under SpaceX, Starlink operates as a civilian broadband service delivering internet to underserved regions via low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, whereas Starshield is engineered exclusively for governmental and military applications.

The restrictions on Tuesday night came as Russia launched deadly attacks against Ukraine that killed several people in Kyiv, officials said, and hit communications and energy facilities used by Ukraine’s military.

President Zelensky described the assault as one of the largest Russian strikes, noting that although many drones were successfully intercepted, additional hull and infrastructure damage occurred.

“This measure appears intentional and reflects the tense geopolitical climate,” advised Serhiy Beskrestnov in a Telegram message Monday morning.

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