WASHINGTON — SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk made the decision to throttle Ukraine’s access to Starshield, the military-grade satellite internet service crucial for guiding Ukrainian drones against Russian forces, according to multiple news reports published Tuesday.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that Musk placed speed caps on hardware used by Ukrainian units on Oct. 14, effectively disrupting missions by fast-moving aerial drones. Ukrainian military officials confirmed to CBS News that unexpected satellite drops began late last week, preventing defensive forces from repelling waves of Russian attacks.
Contradictory accounts in Washington
Accounts differ over how much communication occurred between Musk and the federal government before the restrictions took effect. U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal that Musk decided to implement the speed limits unilaterally without consulting the White House. However, another source familiar with the matter told the newspaper that Musk spoke with several senior officials, including President Donald Trump, prior to putting the cap in place.
People familiar with the discussions also told CBS News that Musk held multiple conversations with administration figures beforehand to clarify Trump’s position, as the billionaire sought to avoid perceptions that SpaceX was profiting from an extended conflict.
Both Trump and high-ranking administration officials publicly denied directing any degradation in service. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said, “I don’t know if it was anybody, because it wasn’t me and I don’t think it was Elon.” On Monday, Trump reiterated that he was attempting to learn who caused the disruption.
Musk addressed the matter in an Oct. 14 post on X, asserting that Starshield equipment is controlled by the federal government. “Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” Musk wrote, adding that standard commercial Starlink service remains limited to civilian or defensive needs.
Battlefield fallout in Ukraine
Standard civilian Starlink terminals typically enforce a motion threshold of roughly 70 kilometers per hour, whereas Starshield has routinely operated at speeds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour to accommodate mid-range attack and reconnaissance drones. Sources told CBS News that connection drops occurred at speeds as low as 90 kilometers per hour, rendering strike systems inoperable and causing tens of millions of dollars in equipment losses.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that reduced connection bandwidth left air defenses unable to down certain Russian drones targeting power plants, compounding strains caused by an energy conflict. Zelenskyy blamed American directives alongside technical execution by SpaceX.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back strongly Tuesday, calling allegations that Washington denied life-saving information “outrageous” and describing Starlink connectivity issues on Oct. 13 and Oct. 18 as technical matters rather than an official U.S. directive.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also stated Tuesday that the Pentagon issued no directives to restrict access. “We haven’t pulled anything back. There are terms of service that ultimately need to be complied to,” Hegseth said, noting SpaceX makes those compliance decisions.
Congress demands answers
The service disruptions have prompted swift political backlash on Capitol Hill. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators recently urged the Department of Defense inspector general to open an inquiry into how service decisions were reached.
Democratic lawmakers signaled they plan to scrutinize Musk’s influence over sensitive national security capabilities. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., responded to Tuesday’s reports by suggesting Musk should testify voluntarily rather than wait for congressional subpoenas.
It remains unclear whether full Starshield operations will be permanently restored across Ukrainian territory or if new restrictions will govern future Pentagon satellite contracts.
