Elon Musk confirms SpaceX restricted Starlink in Ukraine, citing policy violations regarding offensive drone strikes.
Elon Musk recently confirmed that his company, SpaceX, limited the Starlink internet service in Ukraine. He claims the Ukrainian military violated service terms. Musk says they used the commercial network for offensive drone strikes.
Also, the billionaire stated that such use was never allowed. He believes using civilian tech for lethal attacks is inappropriate. Consequently, SpaceX closed this loophole last week.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials remain confused by these claims. Presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov called the statement very strange. He noted that Ukraine cannot use commercial Starlink for long-range strikes.
Next, the service appears to have been restored for the Ukrainian military. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported stable connection speeds on social media. His defense team confirmed drones are now reaching necessary operational speeds.
However, Musk denies responsibility for problems with the military-grade Starshield system. He maintains that Starshield remains under the control of the US government. He says any decisions regarding that platform belong to officials in Washington.
After that, the connection issues surfaced during a diplomatic dispute. Tension grew between Kyiv and the US over strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. These attacks reportedly caused concerns regarding global fuel prices.
Still, Musk claims his company has done more for Ukraine than any other private firm. He argues that Starlink serves better as infrastructure support. He insists it should not be used for offensive actions that invite retaliation.
Finally, the situation remains complex for both sides of the conflict. Ukraine relies heavily on satellite networks for battlefield coordination. Both civilian Starlink and military Starshield play vital roles in the ongoing defense efforts.