SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk ordered limits on satellite service used by Ukrainian forces, CBS News and The Wall Street Journal reported, as Kyiv says the restrictions are disrupting military operations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Oct. 19 that Starlink and Starshield still faced speed limits in some frontline areas. He linked the limits to problems with logistics, strikes on midrange targets and defenses against Russian attack drones.
In an Oct. 19 letter, four U.S. senators said Ukrainian officials had reported on Oct. 14 that Starshield access was restricted for devices moving faster than 100 mph. The senators asked SpaceX when the restriction took effect.
Accounts of who directed the change conflict. Reuters reported, citing unnamed officials, that an instruction to slow Starshield came from inside the White House, without identifying who issued or carried it out. Musk said Oct. 14 that the U.S. military and, ultimately, the president decide speed and usage limits.
President Donald Trump denied ordering the restrictions. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon had issued no directive and that Starlink could make decisions under its terms of service. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Oct. 21 that neither Trump nor another administration official had requested a change.
SpaceX markets Starshield for government use and says it draws on Starlink technology. A June 5 company prospectus identifies SpaceX as Starshield’s operator. In their request for SpaceX records, the four senators asked which employees handled or knew of the Starshield restrictions and who can change Ukraine’s access under the U.S. government contract for that service.
Zelenskyy discussed restoring both Starlink and Starshield service with Rubio on Oct. 20. Another, partly overlapping group of senators asked the Pentagon’s inspector general for an initial briefing by Nov. 1. The four senators requested SpaceX’s records and answers by Nov. 2.
