Elon Musk directed a reduction in the performance of a military-grade version of Starlink that left Ukraine exposed to Russian strikes, US officials have stated. The adjustment caused alarm in Kyiv, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the United States of abandonment, claiming the country’s defenses weakened suddenly on October 14. Zelensky emphasized that the limited service could lead to casualties if not reinstated immediately.
The satellite network, managed by SpaceX, delivers high-speed internet worldwide and serves as a cornerstone for Ukraine’s military communications and drone operations. A subsequent informal White House review confirmed Musk had reduced the connection speed for Ukrainian equipment. This change disabled certain offensive and defence drones.
This slowdown came after remarks from the Trump administration and Musk that appeared unsupportive of Ukraine. Kyiv suspected either Trump or Musk had ordered the restrictions. Relations between Trump and Zelensky had deteriorated in prior weeks, with Trump alleging Ukraine was responsible for rising diesel costs ahead of the November midterm elections. Earlier, he had accused Kyiv of striking Russia’s energy supply, which he claimed drove up fuel prices.
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Intelligence indicates Trump and Musk discussed the Starlink adjustment shortly after the decision was announced. SpaceX also contacted the White House to clarify coordination between the company and the administration before Musk implemented the change. Uncertainty persisted over who authorized the move, with some officials asserting Musk acted alone.
Musk later shared on X, the platform he controls, that any speed or usage limits were imposed by the US military and ultimately POTUS. When questioned about the slowdown, Trump stated he did not know who was responsible but pledged to investigate further. A source close to the matter confirmed Musk had consulted multiple senior administration officials, including Trump, before enforcing the new limits.
For Ukraine, the pressing issue is restoring full Starlink functionality. Without it, drone operations remain disrupted.