SpaceX Confirms It Slowed Ukraine's Starlink Internet

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk confirmed on Saturday that his company ordered the reduction of Starlink internet speeds in Ukraine. The restriction disrupted military operations that Ukrainian forces rely on for defense against Russia. Musk made the admission in a post on X, addressing questions about who authorized the service cuts that had unsettled Kyiv for more than a week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that access to Starlink and Starshield satellite links returned to previous speeds. He noted that the slowdown hampered front-line operations for over seven days. Zelenskyy wrote on X that speeds were now sufficient, with restoration completing overnight and improving logistics by Saturday morning. He specified that the changes aided defense against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones.

Musk defended the decision by citing a violation of service terms. He argued that using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people had never been permitted. He claimed the Ukrainian military breached these rules and that SpaceX closed the loophole last week. Musk added that the U.S. government controls changes to Starshield, the military-grade version of the system that supports Ukrainian drone operations and communications.

The restoration of full speeds occurs as the U.S. pushes for a diplomatic end to the war. Russia agreed on Wednesday to resume three-way talks with Washington and Kyiv next month. Additionally, Kyiv and Moscow agreed on Friday to a localized ceasefire around Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in the southern Kherson region. U.S. First Lady Melania Trump brokered this specific truce.

The episode increased strain between Kyiv and Washington, a relationship already tested by Trump's reported deal on Russian diesel imports. Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara credited direct dialogue and Zelenskyy's diplomacy for the resolution. He emphasized the outcome's importance for the front, specifically regarding drone work, logistics, and communications.

White House officials offered mixed accounts of their involvement. President Donald Trump said he did not make the call but stated Musk should not be blamed. Vice-President JD Vance hinted at White House coordination with Musk. In contrast, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denied any administration involvement in the decision to slow the service.

Combat operations continued alongside these diplomatic and technical developments. Local officials reported a missile attack on Lozova in the Kharkiv region killed one man and wounded two others. Moscow-installed authorities in Crimea reported blackouts following overnight Ukrainian attacks. Ukraine's General Staff said it struck a chemical plant in Tolyatti that produces rocket fuel materials and an electronics plant in Oryol that manufactures missile components. Three people died in the Oryol attack. Ukrainian drones also reached the Omsk region, more than 2,000 kilometers from the border, where the online retailer Ozon reported a drone attack on its logistics center with no casualties.