Elon Musk has indicated that the US government may be the entity behind recent speed restrictions imposed on Starlink, the satellite internet network that has become a critical tool for Ukraine's defense. The service allows Kyiv to guide drones toward Russian targets and maintain communication, but Ukrainian officials reported on Tuesday night that unexpected new speed limits were hindering battlefield operations.
The restrictions, implemented by Musk’s company SpaceX, capped speeds at 100mph (160km/h), effectively disconnecting any weapons systems moving faster than that threshold. By Wednesday evening, former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov noted that the limits had been partially restored. He urged for the complete removal of these restrictions, describing it as critical for Ukraine's defense, and thanked Musk for his continued support.
Responding to these concerns on social media, Musk clarified that while Starlink is a civilian service, there is a distinct military-grade sister service known as Starshield. He stated that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. According to Musk, any decisions regarding speed or usage limitations on these military-grade systems are determined by the US military and ultimately the US president. He further emphasized that Starlink itself is intended for civilian or defensive purposes and cannot be utilized for offensive military action, which he deemed inappropriate for a commercial company.
This development follows direct appeals from Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, who told UK media that he hoped the connectivity issues were merely a massive technical error and requested that the service be restored. The US government has not issued a comment on the matter.
The timing of the initial restrictions coincided with a major Russian aerial assault on Ukraine. Officials reported that the attacks resulted in several deaths in Kyiv and caused significant damage to energy and communications infrastructure, leaving at least 600,000 people without electricity. Zelensky described the event as one of the largest attacks by Russia, noting that while many drones were intercepted, there were still successful strikes on key targets.
During a separate visit to London, Zelensky met with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and King Charles. The UK government announced it would expedite the delivery of lightweight multirole missiles to help Ukraine counter Russian drone threats. Prime Minister Burnham reaffirmed support for the country, stating, "We are behind you and that will not change."
About an hour later, Musk replied to that post, defending his company's involvement.
"Really yes… but it's a little bit more complicated than just my emotions or my feelings," Zelensky said, when asked by UK journalist Piers Morgan if he felt betrayed.
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