Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service was restricted without advance warning overnight, disrupting battlefield operations against Russian troops, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday.
SpaceX, the company that operates Starlink, put a “speed limit” on Starlink terminals in Ukraine, Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s presidential office, said in a post to Telegram. Ukraine depends heavily on Starlink terminals to maintain communications and pilot its extensive drone fleets. Officials said the cap was imposed late Tuesday and had already impacted missions against Moscow.
The Restrictions
Beskrestnov said the military-grade version of Starlink was affected at speeds over 100 miles per hour. Serhii Sternenko, a prominent Ukrainian activist and former drone technology adviser, said “connectivity began to drop” when drones moved at more than 100 miles per hour.
“Our defense forces were not given notice of this limit, and this has resulted in the disruption of a number of missions,” Beskrestnov said. Sternenko said “a number of critical missions” had been affected.
Beskrestnov said the change “cannot be a coincidence” and was tied to the “current political situation.” Sternenko added: “SpaceX likely took these measures at the request of the Trump administration.” Neither provided evidence.
The Political Pressure
The restrictions come as the US pressures Ukraine to halt its campaign of drone assaults on Russian oil refineries, which have contributed to global diesel price rises and dented Russia’s export-reliant economy. Trump has sought to blame rising US diesel prices on Ukraine rather than the US-led war in Iran, which has elevated world energy prices.
President Donald Trump said Saturday he had told Zelensky to stop striking Russian oil refineries as Republicans stare down the midterm elections and prices at the pump remain high.
“Zelensky has gone too far,” Musk said in a post to X on Saturday.
The Diesel Deal
Trump on Friday announced that Russia would “immediately” be supplying at least 300,000 tons of diesel fuel to the American and global markets, with 500,000 tons to follow in November and 1 million tons “immediately thereafter.” The agreement followed a “highly successful discussion” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The Treasury also relaxed sanctions on Russian diesel until April 2027 and authorized imports directly into the United States. The announcement caught Kyiv by surprise. Zelensky called it a “weak decision by strong partners.”
On Saturday, Trump accused Zelensky of repeatedly rejecting opportunities to end the war and defying his warning against striking Russian oil infrastructure. “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. “I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal.”
The Bottom Line
Starlink has restricted Ukraine’s access to its internet service without warning, disrupting drone operations. Ukrainian officials say the speed limit is tied to political pressure and may have been imposed at the Trump administration’s request. The restrictions come as Trump pressures Ukraine to stop striking Russian oil refineries and announces a diesel supply deal with Russia. Musk said Zelensky “has gone too far.”
My Opinion
Elon Musk controls the communications backbone of Ukraine’s military. He can slow it down with a keystroke. He can do it without warning. He can do it, apparently, because the President of the United States is annoyed that Ukraine is striking the oil refineries that Russia uses to fund its war.
That is a weapon that Musk is using against the country defending itself against Russia.
The timing is not subtle. Trump announces a diesel deal with Putin. Trump says Ukraine should get a new president. Trump pressures Kyiv to stop attacking Russian oil infrastructure that funds the invasion. Then, hours later, Starlink slows down the drones Ukraine uses to hit those refineries. Ukrainian officials say the change “cannot be a coincidence.” They are right.
Musk has said Starlink would never be a bargaining chip. He said that before it became one. Now Ukraine’s defenders are losing missions, losing drones, losing time because a billionaire and a president decided that American gas prices matter more than Ukrainian sovereignty.
This is what happens when critical infrastructure is owned by a single man. He does not have to be a traitor to be a liability. He just has to have interests that do not align with the people who depend on him. Ukraine is learning that the hard way.
