Musk Defends Starlink Use, Claims Ukraine Violated Terms for Drone Strikes
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated that Ukraine used the civilian Starlink service for offensive drone operations, a violation of terms of service.
Elon Musk stated on Saturday that SpaceX's Starlink service, which has been crucial for Ukraine's defense efforts, had its terms of service violated by Ukraine using it for offensive drone strikes. Musk claimed that this "loophole" was closed last week.
"Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be," Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter. He asserted that SpaceX has done "more to defend Ukraine than any other private company by far," but expressed "utter contempt" for those advocating for prolonged conflict.
Starlink's connectivity had reportedly faced speed restrictions for over a week, disrupting Ukrainian operations. A source familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital that Ukraine received no advance warning of these restrictions, which took effect overnight. The service was contracted through the U.S. government until May 15, 2027.
Ukrainian forces reportedly discovered the change after experiencing connectivity issues and were informed by SpaceX customer support that Starshield service would be restricted on platforms traveling at speeds of 100 mph or higher. Musk clarified that Starshield is a separate system controlled by the U.S. government.
Musk previously indicated that any speed or usage limits were decided by the U.S. military and the President. However, he did not specify whether President Donald Trump or another U.S. official authorized the new restriction or explain its imposition.
Trump told reporters on Saturday that he had spoken with Musk about the issue but offered no further details. Ukraine's Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday that it had regained broader access to Starlink, with connections remaining stable at speeds of 250 mph.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth have denied that the U.S. government was responsible for slowing Ukraine's Starlink service.
Russia agreed this week to resume three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated he would be open to ending the war by freezing the conflict along the current front lines.