Washington: SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk reportedly ordered a slowdown of a military-grade version of the Starlink satellite network in Ukraine without informing Kyiv in advance, potentially disrupting a critical communications system used by Ukrainian forces in their war against Russia, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The report said Musk ordered the slowdown last week, limiting the speeds at which Ukrainian hardware could remain connected to the satellite network. US President Donald Trump was reportedly aware of the decision, although his public comments have raised questions about the extent of his knowledge of the move.
Ukraine relies heavily on Starlink for battlefield communications and drone operations. The reported restrictions left some Ukrainian drones virtually inoperable, highlighting the strategic importance of satellite internet in modern warfare.
The development has also drawn attention to the influence private technology companies can exercise over military operations, as well as the potential consequences for countries that depend on foreign-owned communications infrastructure.
Starlink restrictions reportedly disrupted Ukrainian drones
According to The Wall Street Journal, Musk ordered the slowdown of the military-grade satellite service last week, imposing speed restrictions on Ukrainian hardware connected to Starlink.
The satellite network has become an important communications lifeline for Ukraine, supporting military coordination and drone operations in areas where conventional communication infrastructure may be unavailable or unreliable.
The reported restrictions affected the performance of some Ukrainian drones, with the newspaper saying that certain systems became virtually inoperable.
The report did not establish the full extent of the disruption or how long the restrictions remained in effect. It also did not provide a complete account of the operational impact on Ukrainian forces.
The episode has renewed concerns about the dependence of military operations on privately operated satellite networks. Unlike conventional military communications infrastructure controlled directly by governments, Starlink is operated by SpaceX, a private company led by Musk.
This arrangement gives the company a significant role in providing connectivity in a conflict zone, while decisions about service availability and operating conditions can have consequences for users on the ground.
Conflicting accounts of Trump’s role
The reported slowdown has also raised questions about Trump’s involvement in the decision.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Musk discussed the move with several senior officials in the Trump administration, including the President, before the speed restrictions were imposed. The report said Musk and Trump spoke about the slowdown soon after it became public last week.
However, Trump said on Monday that he did not know who had ordered the disruption of Starlink access in Ukraine.
“But I’d like to find out,” he said.
Reuters had earlier reported that the order to limit the satellite system came from inside the White House. Last week, Trump also said he did not believe either he or Musk was responsible for Ukraine losing Starlink access.
Musk, meanwhile, said decisions concerning restrictions on speed or the use of Starship had been made by the US military or the President.
The differing accounts have left questions about who initiated the restrictions, how the decision was communicated and the respective roles of SpaceX and US officials.
The Pentagon did not immediately provide a detailed explanation in the accounts cited, leaving the precise chain of decision-making unclear.
Hegseth says Ukraine’s Starlink access was not withdrawn
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that Washington had not withdrawn Ukraine’s ability to access Starlink.
He suggested that the dispute concerned the terms of service with which Kyiv was required to comply, rather than a complete withdrawal of access.
His remarks added another dimension to the debate over whether the reported restrictions constituted a technical limitation, a change in service conditions or a broader attempt to influence how the satellite network was used.
The distinction matters because Ukraine’s military communications depend on reliable connectivity. Even if a service remains technically available, restrictions on speed or functionality could affect the effectiveness of systems that rely on it.
The available reports do not fully explain the technical measures imposed, the specific terms involved or whether all Ukrainian users were affected equally.
Zelenskyy raises Starlink issue with Rubio
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was in Oslo seeking to repair relations with Washington, said he had discussed the issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Zelenskyy referred to “the situation with Starlink/Starshield, which needs to be restored”.
The comments underlined Kyiv’s concern about maintaining access to satellite communications amid the continuing war with Russia.
Starlink and Starshield are both part of SpaceX’s satellite technology portfolio, but they serve different purposes. Starlink provides broadband internet connectivity, while Starshield is designed for government and national security applications.
The reference to both services highlighted the broader strategic significance of satellite communications for Ukraine’s defence and its relationship with the United States.
However, the reported discussion did not establish what assurances, if any, Washington provided regarding future access or whether a final agreement had been reached to restore the affected capabilities.
Starlink’s India plans face a separate dispute
The controversy in Ukraine has also brought renewed attention to Starlink’s proposed entry into India’s satellite internet market, where the company has faced regulatory and commercial challenges.
On October 7, Musk accused “certain oligarchs” of blocking Starlink’s launch in India to preserve their dominance in the telecommunications sector. He made the remarks while responding to a social media post claiming that 11,256 Indian villages still lacked 4G coverage.
Musk described the alleged obstruction as “a crime against the people of India”.
A day later, he questioned whether Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani was “the real boss of India”, intensifying the public dispute over Starlink’s efforts to enter the market.
Musk also said Starlink was licensed in more than 165 countries and had spent five years complying with Indian government requirements.
The comments drew a response from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who welcomed Musk to India and said, “Wait till you discover the other guy.”
Musk replied, “Thank you, Rahul. This is indeed troubling.”
Reliance Industries subsequently rejected the suggestion that it opposed competition in satellite communications.
“We welcome competition in satellite communications, including Starlink. Every player, Jio included, must serve the people of India and abide by the laws and policies of the land,” the company said in a statement.
The exchange illustrates the commercial and regulatory tensions surrounding satellite internet services in India, where providers must meet government requirements before offering services to customers.
Questions over reliance on foreign satellite networks
Starlink uses a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites to provide internet connectivity, including in remote areas where mobile networks and fibre-optic infrastructure may struggle to reach.
The technology can be particularly valuable during emergencies, natural disasters and conflicts, when conventional communication networks may be damaged or unavailable.
However, the reported restrictions in Ukraine have raised questions about the risks of depending on a privately operated foreign satellite network for critical communications.
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu has warned that India cannot afford to place unquestioning trust in foreign satellite networks and needs to develop its own capabilities.
For India, the debate extends beyond competition between telecommunications companies. It also concerns strategic autonomy, the security of communications infrastructure and the ability to maintain connectivity during a crisis.
Starlink’s potential to serve remote communities could help address connectivity gaps, but its pricing may put the service beyond the reach of many households in rural India.
The reported Ukraine episode demonstrates how access to satellite communications can become a geopolitical issue as well as a technological one.