Elon Musk's SpaceX has restricted the speed of its Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, disrupting the operation of Ukrainian drones and causing several nighttime military operations to fail.
Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, said the company had limited the speeds of military Starlink terminals without giving Ukraine's defense forces advance notice. “Our defense forces received no warning about this restriction, resulting in several operations being disrupted,” he wrote on Telegram.
The speed restriction has caused delays of 10–15 seconds in communications with drones, making them more difficult to control remotely. Starlink plays a crucial role in Ukrainian military operations, as the armed forces rely on the connection for logistics, communications and other military tasks.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also responded to the situation, criticizing Musk. “Hey, great Elon Musk, are you playing political games with your product again? As your European customers, we're watching you,” he wrote on the X social network, tagging Musk.
SpaceX and Elon Musk have yet to comment on the restriction. The incident comes amid a series of disagreements between the United States and Ukraine.
In connection with a diesel fuel deal with Russia, the United States had demanded that Ukraine refrain from striking Russian oil refineries. US President Donald Trump also said Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy ceasefire, although Russia continued to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the previous day that Western partners had not provided Kyiv with information or warnings about Russian strikes. Trump denied the claim, stating that the United States continued to provide Ukraine with intelligence.
The situation surrounding Starlink highlights the extent to which military operations can become dependent on technology provided by private companies. When a communications service becomes a critical component of military operations, changes to its speed or availability can immediately affect how those operations are coordinated.
In this case, particular attention should be paid to the fact that, according to Serhiy Beskrestnov, the Ukrainian side was not informed of the restriction in advance. However, SpaceX's position remains unknown, making it impossible to determine exactly what prompted the decision at this stage.
The incident also comes amid tensions between the United States and Ukraine, further complicating its political implications. The company's explanation and the extent to which the restriction affects Ukrainian forces' ability to use the communications system will be crucial in assessing the situation going forward.
