Musk admits to slowing Ukraine satellite internet

Elon Musk acknowledged on Saturday that SpaceX intentionally reduced the speed of Starlink internet service in Ukraine. The restriction, which lasted for seven days, disrupted the digital infrastructure Ukrainian forces rely on to coordinate defense operations against Russia. The admission came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that full access to Starlink and Starshield satellite links had been restored.

Zelenskyy stated that the speed limits hampered front-line operations for more than a week. He noted that the restoration process began overnight and was fully effective by Saturday morning. The return to standard bandwidth improved front-line logistics and strengthened the country's ability to defend against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones.

Musk defended the decision by citing the commercial nature of the service. He wrote on the social platform X that using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people was not allowed. According to Musk, the Ukrainian military violated the terms of service by employing the system for such strikes. He added that the specific loophole allowing this usage was closed during the previous week.

The company maintained that the U.S. government controlled changes to Starshield, the military-grade version of the technology. Starshield underpins Ukraine's drone operations and communications. Ukrainian military and government officials had expressed alarm over the restrictions on this military-grade system. Commanders reported losing drones and facing disrupted missions during the period of reduced bandwidth.

The resolution arrives as U.S. diplomacy seeks to end the conflict. 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, a Russian-occupied town in the southern Kherson region. U.S. First Lady Melania Trump brokered that specific truce.

The incident increased tension between Kyiv and Washington. Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara credited direct dialogue and Zelenskyy's diplomacy with the outcome. He said the resolution was most important for the front lines, specifically for drone work, logistics, and communications. U.S. President Donald Trump said he did not make the call to slow the service but also stated that Musk should not be blamed.

Vice-President JD Vance hinted at White House coordination with Musk regarding the issue. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denied any administration involvement. Fighting continued in the interim. Local officials reported that a man was killed and two others wounded in a missile attack on Lozova in the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian forces also hit a chemical plant in Tolyatti and an electronics plant in Oryol, where local officials said three people died.