Ukraine Denies Elon Musk’s Claim Its Military Breached Starlink Rules
KYIV – Ukrainian officials have rejected Elon Musk’s assertion that Ukraine’s military breached Starlink’s terms by using the civilian satellite network to support offensive drone attacks.
Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, argued that existing limitations placed on Starlink in Ukraine would have made such operations impossible.
“It’s very strange that Elon Musk doesn’t know about the restrictions on Starlink’s operation in Ukraine,” Beskrestnov said in a post published online.
SpaceX’s Starlink network, along with the military-oriented Starshield service, has become a crucial part of Ukraine’s wartime communications. Earlier this month, Ukrainian drones using Starshield reportedly lost connectivity while traveling at high speeds, disrupting air-defense operations amid repeated Russian attacks. Officials said the speed restrictions were removed Saturday, allowing service to resume.
The episode nevertheless intensified questions over who authorized the disruption of a satellite system that Kyiv has depended on for years in its fight against Russia.
Musk confirmed Saturday that SpaceX had limited Starlink service in Ukraine.
“Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be,” Musk wrote. He claimed the Ukrainian military had violated the service’s terms and used it to conduct lethal drone operations, adding that SpaceX had closed what he described as a loophole the previous week.
Musk said, however, that any decisions involving Starshield — the military-grade system supporting much of Ukraine’s drone activity and communications — were controlled by the U.S. government. President Donald Trump has denied ordering the changes, while Vice President JD Vance has suggested that the White House coordinated with Musk.
The Starshield restrictions imposed the previous week sparked concern among Ukrainian military and government officials. Commanders reported losing contact with drones and seeing missions disrupted, further straining relations between Kyiv and Washington. Those ties were already under pressure after reports that Trump had reached an arrangement with Moscow to import Russian diesel, a move Ukraine regarded as a betrayal.
Starlink connectivity was restored as the United States pursued fresh diplomatic efforts to end the war. Russia agreed Wednesday to resume trilateral talks with Washington and Kyiv next month. A day later, Ukraine and Russia reached a limited ceasefire agreement around Oleshky, a heavily damaged Russian-occupied town in the southern Kherson region, following mediation by first lady Melania Trump.
Despite the diplomatic developments, Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russia had sent nearly 2,300 drones toward Ukrainian cities in the previous week. He again urged Western allies to accelerate shipments of air-defense interceptors.
“This week alone, Russia has launched about 1,600 guided bombs, 48 missiles of various types, including ballistic missiles, and almost 2,300 strike drones at Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote online.
He said the attacks, many of which caused deaths, struck nine regions and damaged power facilities, grain warehouses, private homes and commercial properties.
