SpaceX: Elon Musk Imposes Staggering Restrictions on Ukraine That Could Have Deadly Consequences
SpaceX, Elon Musk's company, has imposed a new speed limit on its Starshield satellite service, which Ukraine says disrupts drone interception and military operations.
Russia's mesh network is reshaping Ukraine's drone war, drone expert warns
Draganfly CEO Cameron Chell says Russian mesh networks make drones tougher and more precise.
Despite Ukraine's reliance on services contracted through the US government, the restrictions were imposed without warning, the source said.
Ukrainian forces discovered the change overnight after experiencing connectivity issues and contacting SpaceX customer support.
The source said they were told Starshield service would be limited to platforms traveling at or above 100 mph.
The Starlink logo is displayed on the smartphone screen and the computer screen that shows the portrait of Elon Musk, the owner of Starlink. (Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/LightRocket)
Expert: Russia may use lunchbox-sized stealth drones to counter Ukrainian defenses
Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, warned that the change could especially hamper Ukraine's efforts to intercept newer, jet-powered attack drones from Russia, saying it would threaten "one of our few chances to defend the country" against them.
Ukrainian forces have also begun to record works on the battlefield. Ukraine's 7th Rapid Reaction Corps said an unmanned systems unit on the Holyaipule front had already been forced to cancel a mission due to connectivity problems. The unit reported interruptions even when the drones were traveling below the 100 mph threshold.
Starshield is SpaceX's national security satellite service based on technology developed for the company's well-known Starlink network.
The change could affect Ukrainian drones, planes and helicopters that rely on Starshield connectivity while traveling at high speed, including drones used to intercept Russian drone strikes. According to the source, Ukrainian units are already reporting performance problems at speeds below the declared threshold.
As bomb shelter probe deepens, Ukraine is looking for more patriotic interceptors than America
They said Ukraine had informed Musk that the restriction was not previously in place at the company's terminals and would cause significant operational problems for Ukrainian forces in the ongoing war with aggressor Russia.
Kiev also noted that its current service arrangement, contracted through the US government through May 15, 2027, covers both mobile and land-based applications, including mobile platforms, the source said.
SpaceX had not responded to Ukraine's request as of Wednesday morning, the source said.
The Pentagon is strengthening surveillance of drones as the Trump administration pushes for a rapid expansion of drone warfare.
Poland's foreign minister, Radislaw Sikorski, questioned Musk over the restrictions.
"Hey @elonmusk, big man, are you playing politics with your products again? As your European customers, wea are watching you," he wrote on X.
Poland pays for more than 2,900 Starlink terminals operating in Ukraine.
Sikorsky and Musk clashed last year over Ukraine's dependence on Starlink, with Musk telling Sikorsky, "Shut up, little man."
The Pentagon, through the Space Force, contracts with SpaceX for Starshield services, giving the department a direct role in enforcing the government's agreements with the company. But the Pentagon's contract does not specify whether the military or SpaceX have authority over specific operational limits, including the new speed limit.
Get all the stories you need to know from the most powerful names in news delivered to your inbox every morning.