Musk cites Starlink speed caps in drone dispute

Elon Musk accused Ukraine of breaching Starlink commercial terms by using the satellite internet service for lethal drone strikes, a claim Kyiv officials rejected on Sunday. The dispute centers on whether the civilian network was properly used for offensive military operations despite speed restrictions already in place.

Musk stated on Saturday that using Starlink for offensive drone strikes to kill people was never permitted under the service agreement. He noted that Starshield, the military variant controlled by the US government, is a separate system. According to Musk, Ukraine exploited a loophole that was closed last week when SpaceX imposed new restrictions on drone usage.

Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, called the allegation physically impossible in a Sunday Telegram post. Beskrestnov explained that all Starlink terminals over Ukrainian territory, including Russian-occupied areas, are subject to movement speed limits between 70 and 90 kilometers per hour. He added that the technology does not function over Russian territory, limiting its operational range.

The conflict began nearly two weeks ago when SpaceX started limiting Ukraine's use of Starlink. Ukraine officials have previously accused Musk of throttling access to Starshield, which Kyiv accesses through a deal with the US government. The current disagreement focuses on the distinction between the commercial Starlink service and the military Starshield system.

President Zelenskyy announced over the weekend that the new satellite restrictions have been lifted. This move may end the recent controversy over usage limits. The speed cap of 70 kilometers per hour remains a key factor in the technical arguments regarding how fast drones can fly while maintaining a Starlink connection.