Elon Musk Blames Trump Administration for Ukraine Satellite Throttling
Elon Musk attributed speed restrictions on Ukraine's Starshield satellite system to the US government, disrupting drone operations during Russian missile attacks.
Connectivity restrictions on the Starshield military satellite system disrupted Ukrainian reconnaissance and drone operations on Tuesday, limiting connectivity for drones traveling over 160 km/h. The speed cap effectively prevented Ukrainian interceptors from chasing jet-powered Russian Shahed drones, which exceed 198 mph. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, stated that while the commercial Starlink service is owned by SpaceX, the Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government.
Musk attributed any usage limits to the US military and President Donald Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the slowdown could cost lives, suggesting the move was linked to tensions over Trump's demands that Ukraine stop striking Russian oil refineries to lower US diesel prices. While a senior US official denied involvement and cited a technical malfunction, Ukrainian officials suspected retaliation from the Trump administration.
Connectivity was partially restored by Wednesday, with speeds of up to 160 km/h returning. However, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's former Defense Minister, maintained that removing the speed limit entirely remains critical for national defense to effectively intercept Russian drones.
