Trump says Starshield restored in Ukraine, declines to say if he contacted Musk
President Donald Trump confirmed that the Starshield satellite system is operational in Ukraine again, following reports that he intervened with Elon Musk to restore service. Musk had previously restricted the system's speed, which impacted Ukrainian drone operations.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the growing geopolitical influence of private tech billionaires and the risks nations face when relying on foreign-controlled critical infrastructure.
Trump says Starshield restored in Ukraine, declines to say if he contacted Musk left U.S. President Donald Trump. Reuters Reuters https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/l4mydc/article71614585.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-10-23T043220Z_1890310979_RC2S8OAE5FPM_RTRMADP_3_USA-TRUMP.JPG Evan Vucci US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews following a campaign rally in Sioux City, Iowa, in Maryland, US, October 23, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci Musk had previously said that "any limits on speed or usage" of Starshield systems — which are operated by his SpaceX company — were "decided by the U.S. military and ultimately POTUS," referring to Trump. Washington The Starshield military communications system is "back" in Ukraine, Donald Trump said on Thursday (October 22, 2026), after the Wall Street Journal reported the U.S. President asked tech billionaire Elon Musk to restore the service, which is vital to Kyiv's forces.
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