Elon Musk Confirms SpaceX Slowed Ukrainian Internet

Elon Musk confirmed on Saturday that SpaceX intentionally reduced the speed of Starlink satellite internet in Ukraine. The company has since restored service to its previous levels, ending a week of technical limitations that Ukrainian commanders said hindered their defensive operations.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that full access to Starlink and Starshield satellite links was restored overnight. By Saturday morning, he reported that front-line logistics had improved, specifically aiding the defense against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones. The president noted that the restrictions had hampered military capabilities for more than a week.

Musk defended the decision on the social platform X, arguing that Starlink is a civilian commercial service. He stated that the network was not designed for offensive drone strikes used to kill people. According to Musk, the Ukrainian military violated the terms of service by utilizing the system for such strikes, a loophole SpaceX closed last week.

The owner of SpaceX clarified the division of control between the two systems. He maintained that the U.S. government retains authority over Starshield, the military-grade version of the service. Starshield supports Ukraine's drone operations and communications, and its restrictions had previously alarmed Ukrainian government officials who reported lost drones and disrupted missions.

This technical adjustment occurred during a new phase of diplomatic engagement. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way talks with the United States and Ukraine next month. Additionally, Kyiv and Moscow reached a localized ceasefire agreement around Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in the Kherson region, brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump.

The incident intensified existing tensions between Kyiv and Washington. These relations were recently strained by a reported U.S. agreement on Russian diesel imports. Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara attributed the resolution of the speed issue to direct dialogue and Zelenskyy's diplomacy. He emphasized that the restored connectivity is essential for the military's drones, logistics, and communications.

U.S. political figures offered mixed accounts of their involvement. President Donald Trump said he did not make the call to slow the service but advised that Musk should not be blamed. Vice-President JD Vance hinted at coordination between the White House and Musk, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denied that the administration played a direct role in the decision.

Military operations continued alongside the diplomatic developments. Local officials reported a missile attack on Lozova in the Kharkiv region that killed one man and wounded two others. In Crimea, Moscow-installed authorities reported blackouts following overnight Ukrainian strikes. Ukraine's General Staff said it targeted a chemical plant in Tolyatti and an electronics plant in Oryol, where three people died. Ukrainian drones also struck an Ozon logistics center in the Omsk region, a site located more than 2,000 kilometers from the border.