Elon Musk says United States military controls Ukrainian Starlink speed limits

SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk stated on Wednesday that decisions regarding speed restrictions on the Starlink network and its military variant Starshield are made by the United States military and the president. BBC News US and The Hill both report that the statement followed claims from Ukrainian officials that unannounced speed limits on the satellite network disrupted battlefield operations. [2][5][8]

BBC News US reported that Ukraine relies on the Starlink network to guide drones toward Russian targets and protect its airspace. On Tuesday night, Ukrainian officials stated that unexpected speed limits interfered with military missions, though access subsequently showed signs of improvement, according to BBC News US and The Hill. [2][6]

United States Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, asked Elon Musk to clarify the cause of the restrictions and expressed hope that the disrupted access stemmed from an error rather than a deliberate choice, according to The Hill. [4]

The disruptions occur alongside broader military actions following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Hill reported that ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv caused electrical outages affecting 600,000 people, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that operational slowdowns on the satellite system threaten human lives. [3][6][13]