Elon Musk has said the US military controls restrictions on the speed limits of SpaceX’s Starlink internet service that have disrupted Ukrainian drone operations.
On Tuesday night, Ukraine reported unexpected new speed limits on Starlink that capped connectivity at 100mph (160km/h). Ukrainian drones travelling faster than this lost connection, affecting battlefield missions that rely on Starlink for real-time guidance and communication. The disruption coincided with a major Russian drone attack on Kyiv that killed several people and knocked out communications and energy infrastructure.
An adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Serhiy Beskrestnov, described the restrictions as “not a coincidence” and connected them to growing tensions between Kyiv and Washington. Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram on Wednesday morning that “this action cannot be a coincidence and is related to the current political situation.”
Musk responded publicly on X, confirming that Starshield, a military-grade counterpart to Starlink, is owned and controlled by the US government. “Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” Musk wrote. He added that Starlink is intended for “civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action, as doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial company.”
Starlink, owned by Musk’s SpaceX, provides satellite internet mainly to civilians and remote areas. Starshield is a separate service designed for government and military use. Musk’s clarification suggests the US military imposed the speed limit on Starlink to prevent Ukrainian drones from exceeding certain operational parameters.
The speed restriction was partially lifted by Wednesday evening. Ukraine’s former defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, thanked Musk on X and urged him to help remove the Starshield speed limit entirely, calling it “critical for Ukraine’s defense.”
The timing of the speed cap aligned with a large-scale Russian drone offensive on Kyiv, which Zelensky described as “one of the largest attacks” from Russia. Despite Ukraine shooting down a “significant part of the drones,” some strikes hit their targets. The attacks left at least 600,000 Ukrainians without power, and residents reported receiving no warning before the drones arrived.
Amid these developments, Zelensky said in an interview with UK media that he hoped the Starlink disruption was a “huge technical problem” rather than a deliberate move. He appealed for the service to be switched back on.
The incident comes amid strained relations between Ukraine and the US. Zelensky has accused the US of threatening to cut intelligence sharing if Ukraine did not accept an energy ceasefire proposed by former President Donald Trump, though Trump denied making such threats. Zelensky also expressed feeling betrayed after the US agreed to import 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel, adding: “Really yes… but it’s a little bit more complicated than just my emotions or my feelings.”
During a visit to London on Wednesday, Zelensky met UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and held an audience with King Charles. Burnham pledged continued UK support and announced an acceleration in delivering lightweight multirole missiles to Ukraine, weapons that have been effective in downing Russian drones.
The US government has not publicly commented on Musk’s statements or the speed restrictions imposed on Starlink.
According to Joy Online.
