Elon Musk Says SpaceX Restricted Ukraine's Starlink Access Following Term Violations

Elon Musk has stated that SpaceX restricted Ukraine's Starlink satellite internet service after alleging that Kyiv violated the system's terms of service by using it for military drone attacks. The statement comes as Ukrainian officials report that battlefield connectivity issues have now been resolved.

Writing on the social media platform X, Musk claimed that commercial Starlink services were never permitted to be used for offensive strikes to kill people, adding that SpaceX closed a loophole allowing such use last week. He maintained that Starlink may support military infrastructure but cannot be utilized for unequivocally offensive operations. Musk denied deliberately throttling the connection to hamper defense operations and clarified that Starshield, a US-run military-grade satellite system, operates under the control of the US government.

Ukraine Responds to Starlink Restrictions

Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, described Musk's statement as very strange. Beskrestnov stated on Telegram that Starlink-enabled drones in Ukraine were already restricted to speeds between 40 to 56 mph (70-90 km/h) and programmed not to function inside Russian territory, making medium-range and deep offensive strikes physically impossible via commercial Starlink.

Despite the recent disruptions, Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara confirmed on Saturday that the military is currently recording a stable connection, noting that drones can now reach speeds exceeding 400 km/h. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed on Telegram that connection speeds have returned to necessary levels.

Diplomatic Standoff and Battlefield Developments

The internet service restoration followed comments from US President Donald Trump, who stated he instructed Musk to restore the connection, despite previously denying that he ordered any limitations. The connectivity problems coincided with diplomatic tension between Washington and Kyiv regarding Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. President Trump expressed concern that Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries raised global fuel prices, though price increases this year have been mainly driven by the war in Iran. President Zelensky indicated that the US had also threatened to pause intelligence sharing over the refinery strikes, a claim Trump denied.

Meanwhile, military engagements continued across the region. Ukrainian emergency services reported three deaths and 15 injuries, including an 11-year-old girl, from attacks in the Dnipropetrovsk region, alongside six injuries from a drone strike on a Vinnytsia apartment building. Russia's defense ministry stated it targeted a cargo vessel heading to Chornomorsk and hit logistics facilities in Kharkiv. Additionally, Ukrainian forces struck a sanctioned heavy machinery facility in Oryol, Russia, where local authorities reported three fatalities.