SpaceX Confirms It Slowed Starlink Service in Ukraine

Elon Musk confirmed on Saturday that SpaceX limited the speed of Starlink internet in Ukraine. The company owner stated that the move was an order from his team. These limits caused significant disruptions for Ukrainian forces. The military relies on this satellite network for key defensive operations against Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that standard speeds had been restored. He noted that the restrictions hampered front-line work for more than one week. The issue left uncertainty about who authorized the changes to a system Kyiv has used for years. Zelenskyy said the fix began overnight and was complete by Saturday morning. This improvement helped with logistics and defense against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones.

Musk defended the decision in a post on X. He argued that Starlink is a civilian commercial service. Using it for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been permitted, he stated. Musk claimed the Ukrainian military violated the terms of service by using the system for such attacks. He said the company closed this loophole last week. However, he maintained that the U.S. government controls changes to Starshield. This is the military-grade version of Starlink that supports Ukrainian drone operations and communications.

The restoration occurs during a new U.S. diplomatic push to end the war. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way talks with Washington and Kyiv next month. On Friday, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a localized ceasefire around Oleshky. This is a Russian-occupied town in the southern Kherson region. U.S. first lady Melania Trump brokered the deal.

The episode added strain between Kyiv and Washington. Tensions were already high due to a reported deal between U.S. President Donald Trump and Moscow on Russian diesel imports. Ukraine viewed that deal as a betrayal. Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara credited direct dialogue and Zelenskyy’s diplomacy with Washington for the resolution. He said the outcome mattered most for the front, military, drones, logistics, and communications.

Trump said he did not make the call to slow the speeds. He also said Musk should not be blamed. Vice-President JD Vance hinted at White House coordination with Musk. In contrast, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denied any administration involvement.

Fighting continued in the background. Local officials said a missile attack on Lozova in the Kharkiv region killed one man and wounded two others. Moscow-installed authorities in Crimea reported blackouts after overnight Ukrainian attacks. Ukraine’s General Staff said it hit a chemical plant in Tolyatti. This plant produces materials for rocket fuel. It also struck an electronics plant in Oryol that makes components for Russian missiles. Three people died in the Oryol attack. Ukrainian drones also reached Russia’s Omsk region. This area is more than 2,000 kilometers from the border. Online retailer Ozon said a drone attacked its logistics centre with no casualties.