US President Donald Trump has denied involvement in restrictions reportedly imposed on satellite internet services used by Ukraine’s military, following claims by Ukrainian officials that the move disrupted military operations amid intensified Russian attacks.
Speaking to reporters in Washington, DC, on Friday, Trump rejected suggestions that either his administration or SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk had ordered the restrictions.
“Well, I don’t know if it was anybody because it wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon,” Trump said. “And from what I understand, it’s the same as it’s always been.”
Ukrainian officials had reported on Tuesday and Wednesday that SpaceX restricted access to Starshield, a military-grade version of its Starlink satellite internet service, without prior notice. They said the development affected some military missions and undermined efforts to protect civilians from escalating Russian attacks.
Musk had earlier directed attention towards the US government, stating in a post on X that responsibility for the system rested with Washington.
“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government,” he wrote.
Ukraine’s armed forces have depended on Starlink and Starshield for communications and data collection through autonomous drones, among other military applications. The reported restrictions affected connectivity for drones and other vehicles travelling at speeds above 160 kilometres per hour.
Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the lack of advance notice had caused problems for the country’s military.
“Our armed forces did not receive a warning about these restrictions, and this led to the failure of a number of missions,” Beskrestnov wrote in a post on Telegram this week.
The reported disruption also drew criticism from Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, whose government has purchased Starlink services from SpaceX for use in Ukraine.
In a post directed at Musk, Sikorski questioned whether the billionaire was using his business interests for political purposes.
“Hey, @elonmusk, big man, are you playing politics with your products again?” he wrote. “As your European customers, we are watching you.”
Musk serves as an adviser to the Pentagon on technology through his involvement in the recently announced Project Meridian.
Meanwhile, a report by The Telegraph on Friday alleged that Musk had discussed restricting Starlink access in Ukraine with Trump. The newspaper reported that Musk “approached Donald Trump with the idea of slowing down Starlink in Ukraine,” adding that both men had a role in the restrictions.
Reuters also reported on Thursday, citing two US officials, that the decision to restrict Starlink services in Ukraine originated from the White House. However, the report did not identify the individual who issued the order.
The controversy comes amid renewed tensions over the war and the use of satellite technology in Ukraine’s defence. On October 10, after Trump urged Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, Musk wrote on X, “Zelensky has gone too far.”
Musk and SpaceX had not immediately responded to requests for comment on Friday.
The developments have also coincided with a decline in SpaceX shares, which fell by approximately 11 per cent during the week. The company is scheduled to release its quarterly results on Tuesday.
