Elon Musk ordered slowdown of Starlink service in Ukraine, reports say

Tech billionaire Elon Musk ordered a slowdown of a military-grade Starlink satellite service used by Ukraine, DW and the South China Morning Post reported, citing a Wall Street Journal report. DW reported that the decision was based on information from United States officials, while the South China Morning Post added that people familiar with the matter were also cited. DW noted that Ukraine relies on the satellite network for battlefield communications and drone operations. [1][5][8][9][10][11]

The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk capped the speeds at which Ukrainian hardware could connect to the satellite network last week, according to DW. DW reported that the speed restriction rendered some offensive and interceptor drones virtually useless, limiting Ukraine's military attack and defense missions against Russia. The Daily Express reported that the slowdown plunge Ukraine into panic and left the nation vulnerable to Russian attacks. [1][2][8]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last week that he felt betrayed by United States President Donald Trump after the Starlink slowdown weakened Ukrainian defenses, the Daily Express reported. Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Donald Trump and Elon Musk deliberately blocked Ukrainian access to Starlink. However, the New York Post reported that Elon Musk denied limiting access to the military-grade Starlink service in a post on X on October 14. [2][6]

Elon Musk is the chief executive officer and largest shareholder of SpaceX, which operates the Starlink satellite internet service, according to Wikipedia and the Daily Express. Elon Musk is the wealthiest person in the world, with Forbes estimating his net worth at $1.1 trillion as of October 2026. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, initiating a conflict that occupies roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory. [2][12][14]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren warned of risks to the nation following the speed slowdown. Additionally, United States senators have previously requested an investigation into the restrictions placed on the satellite network. [17][18]