Musk Ordered Ukraine Starlink Slowdown After Refinery Strikes, Crippling Some Drones
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · Oct 21
Musk Ordered Ukraine Starlink Slowdown After Refinery Strikes, Crippling Some Drones
3 articles · Updated · DW (English) · Oct 21
Summary
Last week, Elon Musk capped connection speeds on Ukraine’s military-grade Starlink service, a Wall Street Journal report said, leaving some offensive and interceptor drones virtually useless.
U.S. officials told the Journal Musk and Donald Trump were angry over Ukrainian attacks on Russian diesel refineries, which Trump blamed for higher energy prices.
A call between Musk and Trump took place soon after the slowdown became public, though officials differed on whether Musk acted alone or after consulting Trump and other senior administration officials.
The report undercuts public denials from both men last week that they were responsible for Ukraine’s loss of Starlink access, while Musk had said any limits were set by the U.S. military or president.
The disclosure lands as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff prepares to meet Vladimir Putin on Wednesday after talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with Trump pressing Ukraine to end the war.
How does a sudden satellite blackout expose the hidden vulnerabilities of relying on commercial tech in active combat?
Who truly holds the kill switch when private space technology dictates the outcome of modern drone warfare?
Starshield Throttling at 160 km/h: U.S. Policy, Ukrainian Vulnerability, and the NATO Push for Space Independence
Overview
In October 2026, the U.S. government, concerned about rising domestic fuel prices blamed on Ukrainian drone strikes against Russian oil refineries, negotiated a major diesel deal with Russia and issued sanctions waivers. Soon after, the White House directed the Pentagon and SpaceX to restrict Starshield satellite speeds for Ukraine. This technical cap, implemented overnight, caused Ukrainian military drones and helicopters to lose connectivity during high-speed operations, weakening air defenses and supply lines. As a result, Ukrainian forces had to adapt tactics, while European allies accelerated efforts to deploy alternative satellite networks and U.S. lawmakers launched investigations into the disruption.