Starlink: Musk says US government may be behind slowdown of Ukraine drone speeds
Elon Musk has suggested that the US government may be behind restrictions on the speed at which some of Ukraine's weapons can travel and stay connected to his Starlink internet network.
An adviser to president Zelensky said he believed the restrictions were not a co-incidence and were related to the latest strains between Kyiv and Washington
Musk - writing on X - had been responding to pleas from Ukrainian officials to restore connectivity, including from President Volodymyr Zelensky who told UK media: "I hope that it's a mistake, maybe huge technical problem. I don't know, but we are asking to... switch (it) on."
It had been partially restored by Wednesday evening, Ukraine's former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
About an hour later, Musk replied to that post, defending his company's involvement.
Musk added that Starlink is for "civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action, as doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial company".
While both companies are owned by Musk's SpaceX, Starlink is a civilian service that uses satellites in low Earth orbit to provide internet access, particularly in remote areas, while Starshield is designed for government and military use.
At least 600,000 people across Ukraine were left without electricity, and residents said they received no warning of incoming drones before they hit.
US President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated towards Ukraine as it continues to strike Russian energy facilities.
Speaking during a visit to London on Wednesday, President Zelensky agreed that he had felt betrayed after the US made a deal with Russia to import 300,000 tonnes of its of diesel.
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- Elon Musk has suggested that the US government may be behind restrictions on the speed at which some of Ukraine's weapons can travel and stay connected to his Starlink internet network.
- An adviser to president Zelensky said he believed the restrictions were not a co-incidence and were related to the latest strains between Kyiv and Washington
- Musk - writing on X - had been responding to pleas from Ukrainian officials to restore connectivity, including from President Volodymyr Zelensky who told UK media: "I hope that it's a mistake, maybe huge technical problem. I don't know, but
- It had been partially restored by Wednesday evening, Ukraine's former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
- About an hour later, Musk replied to that post, defending his company's involvement.