Elon Musk Slows Starlink Services in Ukraine

An international crisis emerged after Elon Musk ordered a slowdown of Starlink satellite services in Ukraine last week. The restrictions cause satellite terminals to disconnect when traveling above 161 kilometers per hour, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says disrupts Ukrainian interceptor drones and offensive operations. Zelenskyy noted that these limits are specific to Ukraine, as similar terminals function at higher speeds within European Union territory.

Accounts of who authorized the restrictions conflict. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered the slowdown after consulting White House officials, while Reuters cited officials claiming the decision originated from the White House. Musk has asserted that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and the president. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that access is governed by a private commercial contract with SpaceX, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth denied that the Pentagon issued any directives to pull back service.

President Donald Trump previously expressed a desire to identify the person responsible for the slowdown. The incident occurs as Musk, a former co-lead of the Department of Government Efficiency who left the White House in May 2026, provides significant financial support to the GOP. This includes spending over $150 million to support Republican candidate Ken Paxton in a Texas Senate race. Simultaneously, Zelenskyy has accused the Trump administration of delaying the delivery of Patriot missiles already paid for by Europe.