Musk Says US Controls Ukraine Starlink Limits

Elon Musk says the US government decides speed and usage restrictions on Starshield, after new limits disrupted Ukraine’s military drone operations and raised concerns over Washington’s support for Kyiv.

Speed limits disrupt Ukrainian missions

Ukraine reported unexpected restrictions on Tuesday night that limited speeds to 100mph, or 160km/h, causing faster-moving weapons to lose connectivity to Starlink. The satellite internet service is vital for guiding Ukrainian drones towards Russian targets and supporting air defence.

Connectivity was partially restored by Wednesday evening, according to former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who urged Musk to remove the restrictions entirely.

Musk points to US military control

Responding to Ukrainian officials on X, Musk said Starshield, SpaceX’s military-grade service, is owned and controlled by the US government. He stated that the US military and ultimately the president determine its speed and usage limits.

Musk added that Starlink is intended for civilian and defensive activities, saying it would be inappropriate for a commercial company’s service to support offensive military action. The US government has not commented on the restrictions.

Kyiv suspects political motives

Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, said the timing of the restrictions was unlikely to be coincidental and suggested they could be linked to tensions between Kyiv and Washington.

The disruption came as Russia launched a major attack on Ukraine, killing several people in Kyiv and striking communications and energy facilities used by the military. Zelensky described the assault as one of Russia’s largest attacks, although Ukrainian forces intercepted a significant number of drones.

At least 600,000 people across Ukraine were left without electricity, while some residents reported receiving no warning before incoming drones struck.

Tensions grow between Washington and Kyiv

US President Donald Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Ukraine’s continued attacks on Russian energy facilities. Zelensky has also claimed Washington threatened to restrict intelligence sharing unless Kyiv agreed to an energy ceasefire, an allegation Trump denied.

During a visit to London on Wednesday, Zelensky said he had felt betrayed by a US deal with Russia to import 300,000 tonnes of diesel, while acknowledging the situation was more complicated than his personal feelings.

UK promises further military support

Zelensky was welcomed in London by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and also met King Charles. Ahead of the visit, Downing Street announced plans to accelerate deliveries of lightweight multirole missiles to Ukraine, which have been used to intercept Russian drones.

Burnham reaffirmed the UK’s support, telling Zelensky that it would not change.