Musk ordered Starshield slowdown, disrupting Ukraine drone operations

Elon Musk ordered a significant slowdown of Starshield, the military-grade satellite service SpaceX operates for the U.S. government, according to multiple reports citing unnamed U.S. officials. The restrictions, imposed in mid-October 2026, capped connection speeds that rendered Ukrainian offensive and interceptor drones largely inoperable, disrupting military communications and battlefield operations.

Ukrainian military personnel reported that Starshield equipment began experiencing throttling effects around October 14, with link drops occurring at speeds as low as 90 km/hr—well below the system's normal operational threshold of 160 km/hr or higher. A Ukrainian military commander told The New York Times that the disruptions forced the army to halt almost all operations for three days. An analysis by a Ukrainian drone analyst estimated the losses at tens of millions of dollars, with The New York Times reporting at least $1 million in drone losses.

Musk's stated rationale centers on concerns about how the technology is being used. According to reporting, both Musk and President Donald Trump expressed anger at Ukraine for recent strikes on Russian petroleum refineries. Fox News reported that Musk believed the system was being used for offensive military operations in violation of terms of service. Musk stated publicly that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and the president, not by him unilaterally.

The decision's chain of command remains disputed among U.S. officials. Multiple sources told CBS News and The Wall Street Journal that Musk held conversations with administration officials, including Trump, before and after the restrictions took effect. Some U.S. officials stated Musk acted unilaterally and that Trump did not specifically order the disruption, while others reported Musk consulted with senior administration figures beforehand. Trump said on October 20 that he did not know who ordered the slowdown and was seeking details. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the Pentagon had not manipulated the service and that "nothing's changed from our view."

Starshield operates as a licensed U.S. government technology with no direct alternative for Ukrainian military communications. The incident sparked calls from U.S. legislators for investigation, with Senator Adam Schiff calling for congressional hearings and testimony from Musk under oath regarding the decision and its impact on Ukraine.