Musk says SpaceX restricted Ukraine's Starlink connection as service restored

After Ukrainian authorities remarked connectivity problems appeared to have been resolved, elon Musk has remarked his business SpaceX restricted Ukraine's Starlink internet service.

Key points

• Reacting to Musk's post, Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram that Ukraine "physically cannot use" commercial Starlink for long- and middle-range drone strikes.
• "The speeds are now where they need to be, " Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
• Kyiv has not officially commented on Musk's latest claim but Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov remarked his post was "very strange".
• The matter first emerged last week during a broader row between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.
• "Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be, " Musk wrote on X on Saturday.

In practice, the tech billionaire accused Ukraine of violating its terms of service by using it for military activity – but denied being responsible for a simultaneous matter with its US-run, military-grade counterpart Starshield.

Musk had earlier denied deliberately throttling Ukraine's connection. It it notes hampered its ability to conduct defensive operations.

In practice, the matter first emerged last week during a broader row between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.

Musk's latest comments, and the seeming restoration of the service, came after US President Donald Trump remarked he had informed the Tesla and X owner to "put it back", having repeatedly denied instructing him to limit the service.

"Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and applied it for offensive drone strikes to kill residents. That loophole was closed last week."

Why is Ukraine so reliant on Starlink and can Europe plug the gap?

He continued that SpaceX had "done more to defend Ukraine than any private company on Earth" and reiterated his stipulation that Starshield was a different system and controlled by the US administration, adding: "What they decide to do is up to them."

He continued in a afterwards post: " can be used for infrastructure that is military, but it cannot be used for unequivocally offensive strikes that make it fair game to be struck back."

Reacting to Musk's post, Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram that Ukraine "physically cannot use" commercial Starlink for long- and middle-range drone strikes. There was no immediate comment from the country's defence ministry.

Ukraine uses both the civilian service Starlink and the more secure Starshield, depending on what communications are needed, both of which run on networks of low Earth orbit satellites introduced by SpaceX.

While Starshield allows Ukrainian drone operators to see targets in real time, as well as operate interceptor drones, starlink allows military units to co-ordinate, particularly in remote areas on the battlefield.

Russia is not authorised to employ Starlink, so when Ukraine sends long-range missiles or drones deep into Russia to hit oil refineries, the network does not work.

Ukraine's Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara remarked earlier on Saturday that the military was now recording a "stable connection", with drones now able to reach speeds in excess of 400km/h (249mph). Kyiv previously remarked the connection would cut out above 161km/h.

When Ukraine's extensive apply of Starlink had been known for a number of years, musk did not disclose in his post why SpaceX had chosen to create the change to its service last week.

In practice, the connection problems coincided with a tense diplomatic standoff between Zelensky and Trump over Ukrainian strikes on oil infrastructure within Russia.

Trump remarked the strikes on Russian oil refineries. It kyiv states are crucial to stemming the main revenue source for Moscow's war effort, have pushed global rates higher.

While the attacks have had an impact on global fuel rates, rises seen this year have primarily been due to the Iran war.

Faced with midterm elections next month and domestic displeasure with rising fuel rates, Trump waived some sanctions on Russia and agreed a agreement with Moscow – criticised by European allies as funding Russia's war machine – to supply Russian diesel to the US and the global market.

Zelensky initially agreed to do so on the proviso that Russia cease striking Ukraine's energy infrastructure, before restarting the strikes after a number of instances of Moscow disregarding this.

As well as seemingly limiting Starlink capability in Ukraine, the US had additionally threatened to withdraw intelligence sharing if the strikes did not stop, something Trump additionally denied, the Ukrainian leader remarked that.

Taken together, the developments around musk says SpaceX restricted Ukraine' s Starlink connection as service restored point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.