President Donald Trump on Friday denied any involvement in restrictions imposed on Starshield, SpaceX’s military-grade satellite service, which Ukrainian forces say disrupted critical operations this week. Ukrainian officials reported that access to Starshield was abruptly throttled, cutting off connectivity for drones and other military vehicles traveling above 160 kilometers per hour. The restrictions occurred without warning, according to advisors to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, leading to the failure of several missions.
Trump and SpaceX dispute responsibility
During a press briefing on the White House lawn, Trump was asked directly whether he or his administration had ordered the restrictions. He responded, “Well, I don’t know if it was anybody because it wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon.” The president added that, “from what I understand, it’s the same as it’s always been.” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk also distanced himself from the decision, writing on X that “Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government.”
Ukrainian officials, including Serhii Beskrestnov, an advisor to Zelenskyy, stated that their armed forces received no prior warning about the changes. Beskrestnov posted on Telegram that the lack of notice “led to the failure of a number of missions.” The restrictions specifically impacted autonomous drones used for data gathering and communications, according to reports.
International reactions and policy implications
The sudden throttling drew criticism from European allies. Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland’s deputy prime minister, publicly questioned Musk’s motives on X, writing, “Hey, @elonmusk, big man, are you playing politics with your products again?” Poland has purchased Starlink services for Ukraine from SpaceX. Sikorski added, “As your European customers, we are watching you.”
The Telegraph reported on Friday that Musk “approached Donald Trump with the idea of slowing down Starlink in Ukraine,” suggesting a possible collaboration between the two in imposing the restrictions. The report cited an unspecified source familiar with the discussions. Musk also serves as an advisor to the Pentagon on technology through his role in Project Meridian, a recently announced initiative.
Background on Starlink and Starshield
Starlink, SpaceX’s commercial satellite internet service, has been a critical tool for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Starshield is a military-grade version of the service, designed for government and defense use. Ukrainian forces have long relied on these systems for real-time communications, drone operations, and data transmission. The restrictions introduced this week mark the first reported instance of deliberate throttling affecting military operations.
The White House has not issued an official statement regarding the restrictions or Trump’s remarks. The Pentagon has not responded to requests for comment on whether it ordered the changes or was consulted prior to their implementation.