American technology entrepreneur Elon Musk has accused Ukraine of using the Starlink satellite internet system for deadly drone attacks, violating its terms of service. Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, made the accusation on Sunday, October 25, 2026, stating that a ‘loophole’ allowing Ukraine to use Starlink for offensive drone attacks to kill people was closed last week.Starlink is a satellite internet system owned by SpaceX.The accusation follows conflicting reports regarding Starlink’s functionality in Ukraine. On Saturday, October 24, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the speed restrictions on Starlink and Starshield, a military-grade satellite communication system controlled by the US government, had been lifted. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense also confirmed on Saturday that stable connectivity was maintained at speeds exceeding 400 km per hour, with Ukrainian officials reporting stable connections at 250 miles per hour.However, just a day earlier, on Friday, October 23, 2026, President Zelenskyy had stated that speed restrictions for Starlink and Starshield were still in effect and that speeds had not been restored. On the same day, US Representative Gregory Meeks and Senator Peter Welch, along with four other lawmakers, demanded answers from Elon Musk regarding the Starlink disruptions in Ukraine.
Background of Starlink in Ukraine
SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, activated its Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine in February 2022, shortly after Russia launched a full-scale invasion. This service became crucial for replacing damaged or destroyed internet and communication networks during the war, providing vital services to Ukrainian citizens, government, and military. Starlink has supported humanitarian aid efforts and assisted in defense and counter-attacks against Russian positions.Initially, SpaceX provided Starlink services to Ukraine free of charge and also funded its operations. However, in October 2026, Starlink imposed a speed limit of 160 km per hour on Ukraine’s access, which reportedly hindered many combat missions and prevented its use for long-range attacks on Russia’s oil industry. Ukrainian officials reported that satellite terminals stopped maintaining reliable connections on devices traveling at speeds over approximately 160 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour).The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, October 22, 2026, that US President Donald Trump had called Musk a day earlier, urging him to lift the restrictions.
What happens next
US lawmakers have given Musk until October 31, 2026, to respond to their questions regarding the Starlink disruptions in Ukraine. Meanwhile, European governments are seeking greater independence through programs like IRIS², the European Union’s planned secure satellite communication constellation, with an initial launch scheduled for 2029. Russia has also agreed to resume trilateral talks with Washington and Kyiv next month.
Unanswered questions
There is ongoing dispute over who ordered the restrictions on Starlink and Starshield services. Ukrainian officials have not publicly confirmed whether the full functionality of Starlink and Starshield has been restored, nor have they publicly responded to Elon Musk’s accusations.
