Elon Musk ordered a slowdown of Starlink in Ukraine - report
Reports indicate that Elon Musk ordered SpaceX to restrict Starlink satellite internet speeds in Ukraine, affecting military communication and drone operations. The decision follows tensions between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.
Why it matters
The intersection of private technology infrastructure, geopolitical conflicts, and government policy highlights the immense power wielded by private satellite operators in wartime.
Elon Musk "capped the speeds at which Ukrainian hardware could stay connected to the satellite-based network," the Wall Street Journal reported.
https://p.dw.com/p/5OUWh Ukraine has accused Elon Musk's SpaceX of restricting Starlink service in the country [FILE: May 30, 2025] Advertisement Tech billionaire Elon Musk ordered the slowdown of a military-grade version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite service that Ukraine relies on , the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing US officials.
Kyiv uses Starlink for battlefield communications and drone operations . Restricting the service means restricting the country's attack and defense missions against Russia.
Last week, Musk capped the speeds at which Ukrainian hardware could stay connected to the satellite-based network, the report said, citing unnamed sources. The move rendered some offensive drones and interceptor drones virtually useless, it added.
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