Elon Musk has suggested that the US government may be responsible for new speed limits affecting Ukraine’s weapons. The limits cut some of them off from SpaceX’s Starlink network.
Musk made the claim on X after Ukrainian officials appealed for connectivity to be restored. The US government has not commented.
What Happened
Ukraine uses Starlink to guide drones toward Russian targets and to defend its airspace. On Tuesday night, officials reported sudden speed restrictions that disrupted missions at the front.
Starlink capped speeds at 100mph (160km/h). Any weapon travelling faster than that lost its connection. Connectivity was partly restored by Wednesday evening, according to Ukraine’s former defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov.
Fedorov said removing the limit entirely was now critical for Ukraine’s defence. He thanked Musk and asked for his continued support.
Musk Points to Washington
Musk responded that Starshield, the military version of Starlink, is owned and controlled by the US government. Limits on speed or usage, he wrote, are set by the US military and ultimately the president.
He added that Starlink is meant for civilian or defensive use. It cannot support offensive military action, he said, because that would be inappropriate for a commercial firm.
Starlink is a civilian service that uses low-Earth-orbit satellites to provide internet, especially in remote areas. Starshield is built for government and military clients. SpaceX owns both.
Kyiv Questions the Timing
President Volodymyr Zelensky told UK media he hoped the restriction was a mistake or a technical fault. He asked for the service to be switched back on.
His adviser, Serhiy Beskrestnov, was less willing to give the benefit of the doubt. He wrote on Telegram that the move could not be a coincidence. He linked it to the current political situation between Kyiv and Washington.
The restrictions came as Russia launched one of its largest attacks on Ukraine. Strikes killed several people in Kyiv and hit communications and energy sites used by the military. At least 600,000 people lost electricity. Zelensky said many drones were shot down, but some got through.
Early on Thursday, Russian strikes also killed two people in the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to its governor, Oleksandr Hanzha.
Strained Ties With Washington
US President Donald Trump has grown frustrated with Ukraine over its strikes on Russian energy facilities. Zelensky has claimed that Washington threatened to limit intelligence sharing unless he accepted an energy ceasefire. Trump denied this on Tuesday.
Late on Wednesday, Musk also wrote that it was “time for Zelensky to go.” He has made similar remarks before. Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia’s 2022 invasion, so elections are suspended.
Zelensky in London
Zelensky was in London on Wednesday. Asked by journalist Piers Morgan whether he felt betrayed by a US deal to import 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel, he said yes. He added that the situation was more complicated than his emotions.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham greeted him at Downing Street, and he also met King Charles. Ahead of the visit, Downing Street said it would speed up deliveries of lightweight multirole missiles to Ukraine. Ukraine has used them to shoot down Russian drones.
“We are behind you and that will not change,” Burnham told him.
