Elon Musk says US decides Starlink speed limits affecting Ukraine

Elon Musk suggested the United States government may be responsible for recent limits on how fast some weapons can travel while remaining connected to SpaceX's Starlink network in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials say the unexpected new cap has disrupted drone missions and other battlefield operations.

What Musk said and why it matters

Musk wrote on X that Starshield, the military sister service of Starlink, is controlled by the U.S. government and that "any restriction on speed or use is decided by the U.S. military and ultimately (the U.S. president)." His post came after Ukrainian leaders and officials asked for connections to be restored.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy told British media: "I hope that is a mistake, maybe a big technical problem. I don't know, but we're asking to turn it on." Ukrainian officials say Starlink is a vital tool for guiding drones to Russian targets and for helping defend Ukrainian airspace.

Starlink, owned by Musk's SpaceX, imposed a speed limit on Tuesday evening of 100 mph (160 km/h), meaning any weapon traveling faster than that would lose connectivity with the network. Ukrainian authorities said the restriction was unexpected and impeded operations on the front.

The service was partly restored by Wednesday evening, "The complete removal of the speed restriction on Starshield is now critical for Ukraine's defense," wrote former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov on X, thanking Musk and asking for continued support.

The episode highlights the complex interface between commercial satellite services used in wartime and U.S. government controls tied to military-grade capabilities.

Photo: press material from the event