Elon Musk’s SpaceX has come under scrutiny over reported disruptions to satellite internet.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has come under scrutiny over reported disruptions to satellite internet services used by Ukrainian forces, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accusing the company of restricting access during the war with Russia. Defence secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington had not directed any reduction in the satellite services, while secretary of state Marco Rubio maintained that the White House was not responsible for the reported disruption.
A report by The Wall Street Journal, citing officials familiar with the matter, said Musk had directed an intentional slowdown of Ukraine’s essential military Starlink network, triggering alarm in Kyiv and leaving the Trump administration bewildered. Speaking to reporters, Hegseth said the US military had not instructed any changes to the satellite service used by Ukraine. “We haven’t pulled anything back,” Hegseth said. He said any operational changes or performance adjustments would fall under the satellite provider’s contractual terms.
US officials, however, have denied ordering any slowdown. “Nothing’s changed from our view. We haven’t made any directives or anything like that. And we wish the Ukrainians obviously success.
Mykhailo Fedorov, former minister of defence of Ukraine, later said Starlink connectivity was being restored and called for the removal of restrictions affecting Starshield. Earlier reporting noted: Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump discussed the Starlink decision in a call soon after the slowdown became public, while the president was campaigning last week, the report said. He told Kyiv to stop attacking Russian refineries and urged Ukrainians to replace Zelenskiy.
Rubio also rejected claims that Washington had ordered Starlink’s speed to be reduced. He stressed that Starlink is a commercial service operated by SpaceX, whereas Starshield is a separate military-grade system controlled by the US government.
Earlier reporting noted: Trump turned on Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy after lifting sanctions on Russian diesel to ease pressure on fuel prices that have soared since the US-Israeli war with Iran began in February.