Musk says limits on Ukraine Starlink access are up to US
Elon Musk clarifies that Starlink speed restrictions in Ukraine are decided by the US military and the White House amid rising tensions.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Elon Musk stated that Starlink speed limits in Ukraine are decided by the US military.
- Starlink networks were restricted to 100 mph, impacting high-speed battlefield weapons.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky visited London to meet with UK leadership.
- Russian airstrikes on energy infrastructure left over 600,000 people without power.
Starlink, a crucial tool enabling Kyiv to guide drones to Russian targets and protect its skies, experienced unexpected speed restrictions that disrupted battlefield missions on Tuesday night, according to Ukrainian officials.
An adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky stated the belief that the restrictions were not a coincidence, linking them to the latest strains in relations between Kyiv and Washington during a delicate geopolitical period.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, responded by clarifying on social media that Starshield, the military-grade sister service to Starlink, is controlled directly by the US government, emphasizing that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and the president.
The network restricted speeds to 100 mph (160 km/h) on Tuesday night, meaning any weapons traveling faster than that threshold lost connectivity. However, Ukraine's former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov noted that service had been partially restored by Wednesday evening.
"Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,"
Elon Musk
Musk added that Starlink is strictly intended for civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action, noting that doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial enterprise. In contrast, Starshield is engineered specifically for government and military applications.
The integration of commercial satellite constellations into modern warfare highlights complex geopolitical dilemmas. The blurred lines between civilian infrastructure and military assets place private technology providers under immense pressure from both home governments and international conflict zones.
The restrictions coincided with deadly Russian strikes targeting Kyiv, which killed several people and damaged communications and energy facilities utilized by Ukraine's military. At least 600,000 individuals across the country were left without electricity following the unexpected bombardment.
Meanwhile, President Zelensky traveled to London on a one-day visit, where he was greeted by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at Downing Street. Ahead of his arrival, Downing Street announced accelerated deliveries of lightweight multirole missiles to help Ukraine intercept incoming Russian drones.
Source: BBC World
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