Zelenskyy Says Starlink Upgrades Restored Speeds After Elon Musk Said Ukraine Violated Rules
Starlink service slowed in Ukraine
SpaceX intentionally reduced Starlink’s internet speeds in Ukraine, Musk confirmed on Saturday. The service is a critical communications network that Kyiv has relied on during the war with Russia.
Questions had grown over the previous week about who had authorized the slowdowns. The restrictions affected communications used in Ukraine’s military efforts.
Musk cites terms of service
Writing on X, Musk said Ukraine’s military had used Starlink for offensive drone strikes. He said that use violated the service’s terms and that SpaceX had closed the loophole the previous week.
Musk also said the U.S. government directed adjustments to Starshield, a defense-focused version of Starlink that supports Ukrainian communications and drone operations. He defended SpaceX’s work to support Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Ukraine reports restored speeds
Zelenskyy said on X that connection upgrades made overnight had stabilized military supply lines. He also said they strengthened countermeasures against Russia’s jet-propelled Shahed drones by Saturday morning.
Musk’s confirmation came after Ukraine reported that Starlink service had been restored. He said speeds had reached the necessary level.
Key points
- SpaceX slowed Starlink service in Ukraine, Musk confirmed on Saturday.
- Musk said Ukraine’s military violated Starlink’s terms by using it for offensive drone strikes.
- Zelenskyy said connection upgrades supported military supply lines and defenses against Shahed drones.