Elon Musk accused Ukraine’s military of violating Starlink’s terms of service by using the satellite network for offensive drone strikes to kill people. He said the “loophole” had been closed the previous week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Saturday that Starlink and its military version, Starshield, were operating at full speed again after more than a week of restrictions. The Defense Ministry said terminals were now stable above 400 km/h, restoring drone and frontline communications.
Musk stated on X that Starlink, a civilian service, was never intended for offensive strikes. “Were Starlink to be turned off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately,” he added, calling it a statement of fact rather than a threat.
Ukrainian officials denied the allegations. Serhii Sternenko, a former Defense Ministry adviser, said commercial Starlink terminals could not support moving drone operations since February, as only Starshield terminals were permitted for such use. Presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov added that commercial Starlink terminals in Ukraine were capped at 70–90 km/h and did not function over Russian territory, making long-range strikes technically impossible.
The restrictions had capped speeds at around 160 km/h, disrupting Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian drones and forcing the cancellation of some operations. Zelensky thanked U.S. partners for their role in restoring service, while Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara confirmed the military was monitoring the restored connections.
Musk clarified that Starshield, the militarized version, is controlled by the U.S. government, stating, “What they choose to do is up to them.” Neither SpaceX nor U.S. officials have publicly taken responsibility for the initial restrictions.
