In brief
In a surprise statement, President Donald Trump told reporters that Elon Musk’s SpaceX had restored Ukraine’s satellite internet service after a sudden slowdown. The claim follows Russian‑backed reports that Starlink’s speed was capped at 160km/h, crippling Ukrainian drone operations. Musk denied any intentional throttling, citing U.S. government control of the military‑grade Starshield. Trump’s remarks come as he pressures Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries and faces criticism for easing sanctions on Russia. The incident illustrates how cyber‑infrastructure and geopolitical negotiations intersect on the front lines.
In a surprising announcement on the sidelines of a press briefing, President Donald Trump claimed that Elon Musk’s SpaceX had restored full internet connectivity to Ukraine after a sudden speed cut that had impaired the country’s use of drones and other battlefield communications.
The assertion follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s earlier statement that Starlink, the satellite‑based service operated by Musk, still fell short of its normal 400km/h (250mph) speed, forcing military units to adjust to a markedly slower link. Zelensky said Ukrainian forces were still waiting for confirmation from the U.S. Secretary of State that the restrictions would be lifted.
SpaceX has denied that it deliberately throttled the service, noting that the agency that governs Starshield – the military‑grade version of Starlink – is under U.S. government control. Musk said last week that the military might be behind the slowdown, a claim that has sparked debate over the balance between civilian and military interests in satellite communications.
Trump’s remarks came amid his recent push to pressure Ukraine into suspending attacks on Russian oil refineries, arguing that those strikes have inflated fuel prices. The administration has previously insisted it did not order any curbs on Starlink usage. In addition, Trump is facing criticism from U.S. allies for easing sanctions on Russia ahead of midterm elections.
Starlink’s role in the war has been crucial; the service provides real‑time battle communication, early warning systems, and the ability to launch offensive drones. With the alleged speed cut in place, Ukrainian forces reportedly found their drones and interceptors to be significantly less effective against Russian air strikes.
