Musk Says Ukraine Broke Starlink Rules With 'Offensive Drone Strikes' as Kyiv Reports Service Restored
Elon Musk said Saturday that Ukraine's military broke Starlink's terms of service by using the civilian satellite internet network for offensive drone strikes, and that SpaceX had "closed" that "loophole," after more than a week of speed restrictions that disrupted Kyiv's war effort against Russia, Fox News Digital and the New York Post reported.
Ukraine said the same day that its access had been restored. "The speeds are now at the level we need," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Telegram post, according to the New York Post.
What Musk Said About Starlink
"Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be," Musk wrote on X. "Starshield, a different system, is controlled by the US government. What they decide to do is up to them."
He added that Ukraine's military "violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week," according to both outlets.
Musk also wrote that Starlink "remains critical to the defense of Ukraine." "Were Starlink to be turned off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately. This is NOT a threat, it is simply a statement of fact," he added, Fox News Digital reported. He said SpaceX "has done more to defend Ukraine than any private company on Earth BY FAR," and lashed out at what he called "virtue-signaling evil warmongers who push for endless slaughter."
A source familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital that Ukraine received no advance warning before the restrictions took effect overnight. Ukrainian forces found out after connectivity problems and a call to SpaceX customer support, and were told service would be restricted on platforms moving at 100 mph or faster, the source said. The New York Post reported the problems involved drones flying at 160 km/h or more.
Who Ordered the Slowdown
Last week, Musk blamed the U.S. military. "Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," he wrote, according to Fox News Digital. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and War Secretary Pete Hegseth have denied that the government was responsible for slowing Ukraine's service, Fox News Digital reported.
Musk did not say whether President Donald Trump, Hegseth or another official approved the restriction. Trump told reporters Saturday that he had spoken to Musk about the issue but did not elaborate, according to Fox News Digital. The New York Post reported that the slowdown drew bipartisan and international criticism.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defense said Saturday that connections were stable again at speeds of 250 mph, Fox News Digital reported. Ukraine relies on the service under arrangements contracted through the U.S. government until May 15, 2027, according to the outlet's source.
The dispute comes as Russia agreed Wednesday to resume three-way talks with Washington and Kyiv next month, Fox News Digital reported.
Image: SpaceX Falcon 9 launch carrying Starlink satellites (file photo), U.S. Space Force photo by Joshua Conti, public domain.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Fox News Digital, "Ukraine's Starlink restored as Elon Musk claims Kyiv violated terms of service 'to kill people'" (Oct. 25, 2026): https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ukraines-starlink-restored-elon-musk-claims-kyiv-violated-terms-service-kill-people ; New York Post, "Musk confirms SpaceX was behind thwarting of Ukraine's Starlink access" (Oct. 25, 2026): https://nypost.com/2026/10/25/us-news/musk-confirms-spacex-was-behind-thwarting-of-ukraines-starlink-access-evil-warmongers/
Comments