Ukraine's Starlink restored as Elon Musk claims Kyiv violated terms of service 'to kill people'

Starlink Speed Limits Spark Backlash After Ukraine’s War‑Effort Disruption

Washington, D.C. — A sudden slowdown of the SpaceX‑owned satellite‑Internet service, Starlink, hit Ukrainian forces on Saturday, prompting a flurry of statements from the company’s chief executive, the U.S. government, and Kyiv’s leadership.

The restriction, which cut data rates to vehicles traveling faster than 100 miles per hour, came into effect overnight with no advance notice to Ukraine, a country that has relied on Starlink for communications since the war with Russia began in 2022. The slowdown disrupted drone operations and other military communications, raising concerns that the Ukrainian front line could collapse if the service were completely shut down.

Musk Defends Starlink and Accuses Ukraine of Violations

Elon Musk, who heads SpaceX, the maker of Starlink, took to X (formerly Twitter) to defend the service and criticize Ukraine’s alleged misuse. “Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be,” Musk wrote. He added that the company had “closed the loophole last week.”

Musk also explained that Starshield, a separate system controlled by the U.S. government, was not the same as the commercial Starlink service. “What they decide to do is up to them,” he said, implying that the restriction was imposed by U.S. authorities rather than the company.

He emphasized Starlink’s importance to Ukraine’s defense. “Starlink remains critical to the defense of Ukraine, as it is the only system that cannot be jammed or blown up, at least for now,” Musk wrote. “If Starlink were turned off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately.” The Musk also declared that “SpaceX has done more to defend Ukraine than any private company on Earth by far.”

In a scathing remark, Musk expressed contempt for “virtue‑signaling evil warmongers” who, according to him, “push for endless slaughter and offer no realistic solution to the conflict.”

U.S. Officials Deny Responsibility

The U.S. military and Washington officials have denied any role in the restriction. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and War Secretary Pete Hegseth both stated that the U.S. government had not imposed the slowdown. President Donald Trump, who reportedly spoke with Musk about the issue, declined to elaborate in a Saturday interview with reporters.

Musk himself blamed the U.S. military for any limits on speed or usage, saying, “Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately POTUS.” He has not indicated whether President Trump or a specific U.S. official authorized the change.

Ukraine Regains Broader Access

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense announced Saturday that it had regained broader access to Starlink. Connections were restored at speeds up to 250 miles per hour, although the ministry did not confirm whether the speed limit had been fully lifted. Ukrainian forces had first noticed the change when the service failed to meet the high‑speed requirements for moving military assets, prompting inquiries with SpaceX customer support.

The Ministry of Defense also noted that Ukraine had been under a contract through the U.S. government that runs until May 15, 2027. No advance warning of the slowdown was reportedly provided to Kyiv.

Broader Context

The restriction and subsequent restoration come amid renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three‑way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told “Fox & Friends” earlier this week that he would be open to ending the war by freezing fighting along the current front lines.

SpaceX’s Starlink and its military‑grade variant Starshield remain key components of Ukraine’s communications infrastructure, with the U.S. government maintaining that it is “the only system that cannot be jammed or blown up.” The recent incident has highlighted the delicate balance between commercial satellite service and military applications in a war zone.