Elon Musk said on Wednesday that the US government, not SpaceX, decides any speed or usage limits on Starshield, the military version of Starlink that Ukraine uses on the battlefield. He spoke hours after a slowdown of the service triggered what the New York Post described as panic in Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelensky warning the throttling would cost lives.
Key facts
- Musk said: “Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government,” adding that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately by the US president, according to the New York Post.
- Ukrainians had noticed connectivity being throttled on drones cruising at speeds of 160 km/h or more, the New York Post reported.
- Mykhailo Fedorov said connectivity at speeds of up to 160 km/h was being restored, and that fully removing the Starshield speed limit is now critical for Ukraine’s defence.
- Zelensky told “Piers Morgan Uncensored” the slowdown was “a big mistake” and that people will die.
- Ukrainian officials said the episode had undermined multiple active operations against Russian forces, according to the New York Post.
- Ukrainian defence officials suggested Washington was behind the reduced speeds on terminals used for strikes and interceptor drones, BGNES reported.
Why it matters
The New York Post reports that Ukraine has relied heavily on its access to Starshield to carry out drone attacks and logistical operations against Russian forces. That makes a speed cap on the service an operational question rather than a consumer one, and the dispute over who imposed it now sits between Kyiv, the Pentagon and SpaceX. Our earlier report on the reported speed cap on Ukraine’s drone missions set out how the problem first surfaced.
What Musk said
Musk drew a line between the two services, saying Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX while Starshield sits with the US government. In the wording quoted by BGNES, he said any throttling or use restrictions are determined by the US military and ultimately by the US president, referring to Donald Trump. BGNES, citing AFP, notes both systems were developed by Musk’s SpaceX. For readers new to the distinction, see our explainer on Starshield, the military tier of SpaceX’s satellite network.
The slowdown and a partial restoration
Musk was responding to a post on X by Fedorov, who said Starlink connectivity at speeds of up to 160 km/h was being restored, both outlets report. The New York Post puts that announcement at 2pm ET on Wednesday and quotes Fedorov thanking Musk and saying Kyiv hoped for his continued support. Fedorov also said the complete removal of the Starshield speed limit was now critical for Ukraine’s defence, which indicates the cap was not lifted in full.
The two reports describe Fedorov differently: the New York Post calls him Ukraine’s defence minister, while BGNES calls him a former Ukrainian defence minister. Separately, Ukrainian units have confirmed the limits hit drone missions.
Background: missile warnings and midterm politics
The New York Post reports that the slowdown came as Trump and his team faulted Ukraine for giving him midterm headaches over high diesel prices through its strikes on Russian refineries. BGNES reports the same accusation, adding that Trump faces US midterm elections next month with fuel prices among the key issues, and that he blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for supply shortages and higher prices at the pump.
On Tuesday, Russia carried out a barrage of attacks on Ukraine, including a ballistic missile attack delivered without warning from the US for the second night in a row, according to Ukrainian officials cited by the New York Post, which notes that the US has shared intelligence warnings with Ukraine in the past. BGNES reports that Kyiv was hit by ballistic missiles on two consecutive nights before air raid sirens were activated to tell residents to seek shelter.
BGNES also reports that Ukraine accused the United States of helping Russia by failing to provide warnings of impending missile strikes, and that a senior Ukrainian official confirmed Washington had in recent days threatened to stop providing intelligence on Russian missile launches, which Ukraine uses to help prevent attacks. Trump denied making any such threat, according to BGNES.
What is still unclear
Neither report establishes who set the speed limit. A Ukrainian source familiar with the matter told the New York Post that the Pentagon’s contract with SpaceX does not settle whether the military or the company has authority over specific operational restrictions, including the new speed limit. Neither outlet reports a response from the Trump administration, the Pentagon or SpaceX beyond Musk’s own posts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Musk distinguish Starlink from Starshield?
Musk said Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX, and that its use is limited to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action, which he said would be inappropriate for a commercial company. Starshield, by contrast, he said is owned and controlled by the US government. BGNES, citing AFP, reported that both systems were developed by SpaceX and that Ukraine uses both, but is not allowed to use Starlink for offensive operations.
Who holds the Starshield contract with SpaceX?
A Ukrainian source familiar with the matter told the New York Post that the Pentagon, through Space Force, contracts with SpaceX for Starshield services, giving the department a direct role in administering the government’s agreements with the company. The same source said the existence of that contract does not establish whether the military or SpaceX has authority over specific operational restrictions, including the new speed limit.
Has the speed limit been removed completely?
No. Fedorov said connectivity at speeds of up to 160 km/h was being restored, and added that removing the Starshield speed limit entirely is now critical for Ukraine’s defence. Neither the New York Post nor BGNES reports that the cap has been lifted in full.
Why is Trump at odds with Ukraine over oil refineries?
Both reports say Trump, facing US midterm elections next month with fuel prices among the key issues, blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for supply shortages and rising prices at the pump. The New York Post reported that Trump and his team faulted Ukraine for giving him midterm headaches over high diesel prices.
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