In brief
Elon Musk said SpaceX had throttled Ukrainian Starlink traffic, claiming the country broke use‑policy with military drones. He denied deliberate action, arguing Starshield – the U.S.‑controlled branch – was separate. Ukrainian officials called Musk’s claim "very strange" amid an ongoing diplomatic tense over strikes on Russian oil sites. Recent reports suggest the outage is now resolved and Ukrainian drones can reach speeds above 400 km/h. The dispute illustrates the fragile blend of military tech and geopolitics in the conflict.
Elon Musk has claimed that SpaceX limited Ukrainian access to its Starlink internet service after Ukraine’s government said the outages were resolved.
He accused Kyiv of using the satellite network for combat operations, a breach of the terms that allow Starlink for civilian use. Musk denied deliberate throttling but defended Starshield, a U.S.‑controlled version of the service.
Ukraine’s presidential adviser said Musk’s post was “very strange,” as Kyiv had not commented officially. The dispute surfaced during a U.S. diplomatic spat over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil facilities.
Musk posted on Twitter that “using Starlink for offensive drone strikes has never been allowed … The loophole was closed last week.” He also clarified that Starshield is separate and controlled by the U.S. government.
Ukraine’s defence ministry reported the connection is now stable, allowing drones to reach speeds above 400 km/h, a boost for battlefield coordination. The situation reflects the complex interplay of technology and geopolitics as the war drags on.
