In brief
Elon Musk has claimed that the United States, not his company SpaceX, imposes speed limits on Ukraine’s Starlink satellite service, which is crucial for guiding drones and protecting Russian‑occupied skies. Ukrainian officials say the new caps, set at 100 mph, disrupted battlefield operations, prompting pleas from President Zelensky for their removal. Musk reiterated that Starshield, the military‑grade version of Starlink, is owned by the U.S. government and that any usage restrictions fall under U.S. military authority. The U.S. has yet to comment, while Ukraine stresses the need to lift the limits for effective defense.
Musk says US decides Starlink limits, not SpaceX
Elon Musk has suggested that the United States is behind the recent speed caps on Ukraine’s Starlink network.
Starlink, a satellite‑based internet service owned by SpaceX, is a critical tool for Kyiv, enabling drone strikes on Russian positions and protecting Ukrainian airspace. On Tuesday night, Ukraine reported unexpected new speed limits—capping connectivity to 100 mph—which disrupted military operations.
An adviser to President Zelensky said the restrictions were unlikely coincidental and appeared tied to growing tension between Kyiv and Washington.
Musk, writing on X, clarified that Starshield—SpaceX’s military‑grade sister service—is controlled by the U.S. government. He wrote, "Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS."
He also noted that Starlink is designed for civilian or defensive activities and not for offensive military action, describing the latter as "inappropriate for a commercial company."
The U.S. government has not issued a comment on the matter.
The speed caps arrived amid Russia’s latest missile strikes on Kyiv, which caused widespread power outages and damaged communications, leaving some 600,000 residents without electricity. Ukrainian officials condemned the move as a political act linked to the current geopolitical climate.
By Tiffany Wertheimer
35 minutes ago
