Brief
Musk blames Trump for Starlink speed limits on Ukrainian forces
Musk says the US government, not SpaceX, set the limits, while Ukrainian officials call the move a betrayal.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Elon Musk has said former President Donald Trump ordered speed restrictions on SpaceX’s Starlink service for Ukrainian military users, according to a post on X and reporting by The Independent.
What happened
The slowdown was announced on Wednesday, coinciding with Trump’s demand that Ukraine halt long‑range strikes on Russian energy sites. Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski accused Musk of “playing politics” after the limits were imposed. Musk replied on X that Starshield systems are owned by the US government and that any speed or usage limits are decided by the US military and the president.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that Musk previously said Starlink would never be turned off or used as a bargaining chip, emphasizing the commercial nature of the service. He also retweeted a user claiming SpaceX has no obligation to aid Ukraine, adding “True.” A US official told Axios that the Trump administration was not involved in the limitations, though the outlet could not confirm the claim. The article cites a Guardian‑reported adviser to President Zelensky saying several combat missions failed on Tuesday evening because of the outage.
What was said
“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and POTUS,” Musk wrote, as reported by The Independent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Piers Morgan Uncensored, “This is not the right side of history,” adding that the shutdown could cause deaths. Sikorski posted on X, “Hey, @elonmusk, big man, are you playing politics with your products again? As your European customers, we are watching you.”
How it came about
The speed restriction follows Trump’s broader push to limit Ukrainian strikes, including his call for an energy ceasefire and his decision to lift sanctions on Russia. Poland, which pays for Ukraine’s Starlink subscription, warned that the limits could hinder drone strikes that disrupt Russian logistics.
Key facts
- Elon Musk said Donald Trump ordered speed limits on Starlink for Ukrainian military users (independent.co.uk)
- Musk stated the limits are decided by the US military and the president (independent.co.uk)
- Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski accused Musk of playing politics (independent.co.uk)
- Ukrainian President Zelensky said the outage could cause deaths (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Musk blames Trump for slowing down Starlink access for Ukrainian army”
