Elon Musk authorized a reduction in the speed of a military-grade version of Starlink satellites used by Ukrainian forces, according to multiple US officials and sources familiar with the matter. The move, which began on October 14, significantly affected the operational capabilities of Ukrainian offensive and interceptor drones, raising alarm in Kyiv and causing confusion within the Trump administration.
The decision reportedly stemmed from frustrations shared by Musk and former President Donald Trump over recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian diesel refineries. Trump has publicly blamed these strikes for contributing to high global energy prices, a concern he emphasized during his campaign for the upcoming midterm elections. Both men had expressed displeasure at Ukraine’s targeting of Russian fuel infrastructure, with Trump telling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on October 10 not to attack refineries, saying it was “a world problem.” Musk echoed this sentiment, commenting on social media that Zelensky “has gone too far.”
Following the speed restrictions, Ukrainian drone operators found themselves unable to maintain unrestricted satellite connectivity, critically hindering strike and air defense operations. Michael Kofman, a war expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted that Ukrainian forces have been limited to drone speeds below 130 kilometers per hour, despite their systems requiring higher thresholds to be fully effective.
Despite Musk later tweeting that any speed or usage limits are determined by the US military and ultimately the president, there remains uncertainty over the extent to which Trump directly ordered or approved the Starlink slowdown. Some US officials maintain that Musk acted independently, while others say he consulted with senior administration figures, including Trump, before the restrictions were imposed.
The episode prompted a flurry of activity within the White House, as SpaceX representatives reached out to government counterparts to present a unified stance that the decision was coordinated. Meanwhile, Zelensky publicly warned that the limitations could result in Ukrainian casualties and demanded restoration of full Starlink service. His complaints sparked an informal investigation within the US government to clarify responsibility.
Ukraine’s top diplomat in Washington, Denys Sienik, said Kyiv is still awaiting an official explanation from both Pentagon and SpaceX leaders. The company did not respond to requests for comment. At a recent briefing, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied claims that intelligence support to Ukraine had been curtailed, though he acknowledged “there’s no doubt” that tensions between Washington and Kyiv have increased. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that while Starlink retains the right to determine its terms of service, the US government has not issued any directives altering the service.
Zelensky traveled to Norway for talks involving Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and other officials focused on efforts to end the conflict. The incident has underscored the significant influence Musk wields over Ukraine’s war effort, as Starlink remains a critical lifeline for Ukrainian forces amid ongoing hostilities with Russia.