WSJ Reports Musk Ordered Starlink Slowdown in Ukraine Then Blamed Trump

WSJ Report Details Musk Decision

The Wall Street Journal reported that SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk ordered a slowdown of the military-grade Starlink service relied on by Ukrainian forces. The cap cut data connections when terminals moved faster than 160 kilometers per hour, a speed common for Ukrainian drones equipped with Starshield, the military variant of Starlink. The restriction forced drones to fly slower, making them easier targets for Russian weapons.

Conflicting Statements from Musk and Trump

Musk said on October 14 that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government and that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately the president. President Donald Trump told reporters on October 16 that he did not order the slowdown, that he learned of it through the media and that the administration did not slow it down at all. Asked again on Monday who ordered the cap, Trump said he did not know but wanted to find out. Reuters reported on October 15, citing two US officials and a Western official briefed on the matter, that the order came from inside the White House, an account that conflicts with the WSJ report.

Impact on Ukrainian Drone Operations

Ukrainian officials said the new speed limit affected units using Starlink or Starshield services. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote that equipment stops functioning at speeds between 130 and 161 kilometers per hour in various sectors of the front. The Wall Street Journal reported that the cap rendered some offensive and interceptor drones virtually useless.

Administration and Ukrainian Responses

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Ukraine uses only the commercial Starlink service and does not have Starshield now, while Zelenskyy insisted Ukraine uses Starshield and that the restrictions have not been fully lifted. Rubio added that the president has nothing to do with decisions made by Starlink, Starshield or Musk, calling it a private company, and said the administration had no foreknowledge of the slowdown. The White House reiterated Trump's statement that the service is currently operational. SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.

Earlier coverage: Ukraine Says SpaceX Limits Starlink Services, Disrupting Military Drone Missions

Sources: Ars Technica · Cybernews