Dispute over Starlink limits in Ukraine: Zelensky blames the US, Trump and Musk deny responsibility

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the United States of deliberately restricting Starlink, the satellite communications system operated by SpaceX, in Ukraine. The system is important for the Ukrainian army's communications and drone use, so limits could make it harder for the country to defend itself against Russian attacks. US President Donald Trump and SpaceX chief Elon Musk deny any role.

Conflicting claims

The British newspaper The Telegraph, citing four people familiar with the matter, reports that Musk himself suggested restricting Starlink in Ukraine to Trump, and that the president agreed. Both deny being linked to the decision.

Musk says decisions on limits for Starshield, the military version of Starlink, are made by the US military leadership and the president. Trump says he has given no such order. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also denied Washington's involvement, saying nobody ordered a reduction in the system's operating speed.

Ukraine's arguments

Zelensky says Ukrainian tests showed that on drones equipped with Starlink, communication cuts out completely once speed exceeds 161 km/h. Within the European Union, he says, the same systems have worked at speeds above 180 km/h. In his view, this points to deliberate restrictions rather than a technical fault.

In an interview with NBC, Zelensky stressed that the restrictions have still not been lifted and urged the US to restore full functionality. He said Ukraine will keep defending itself even without this connection, but does not understand why its allies allow such failures to happen.

Earlier restrictions

This is not the first time SpaceX has limited the use of its technology in the war. As early as 2023, the company's management acknowledged taking steps to restrict Starlink use in certain military operations. The company then explained that the system had not originally been intended for offensive operations.

Starlink's role in the Ukrainian army has grown considerably in recent years: it is used for soldiers' communications, reconnaissance, drone control and air defense. Limits could therefore affect Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian drones while Moscow continues intense attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. The European Union is already looking for alternatives to Starlink to reduce its dependence on SpaceX and decisions by the US government.