SpaceX CEO Elon Musk allegedly made the final call to throttle Starlink speeds for Ukrainian drones, a move that blindsided air assault forces last week, the Wall Street Journal reports. This development contradicts claims made by Musk, who previously stated that all decisions regarding the military version of the technology are controlled by the US military and President Trump.
The restriction, which took effect early Thursday, limits the data connection for terminals moving faster than 160 kph. This speed cap forces drones to fly slower than intended, making it easier for Russian weapons to target or evade them. Ukrainian officials report that this issue affects Starshield, the military-focused satellite service offered by SpaceX.
The situation has created significant confusion regarding who is actually in charge of these operational limits. Musk wrote on October 14 that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. He claimed that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS.
President Trump has denied any involvement in the decision
When asked about the slowdown on October 16, Trump told reporters, “I didn’t do that. No, we didn’t do that at all… I heard about it through the news, through the media. We didn’t slow it down at all.” When pressed again on Monday, he stated, “I don’t know who it was, but I’d like to find out.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in on Saturday, noting that the administration had no foreknowledge of the slowdown. Rubio told reporters today that “the president has nothing to do with the decisions that are made by Starlink and Starshield and by Mr. Musk. That’s a private company. The president doesn’t run that company and can’t direct that company to do anything.”
Despite these denials, reports suggest Musk may have consulted with administration officials before acting. A person familiar with the situation told the Wall Street Journal that Musk spoke to multiple senior administration officials, including Trump, before imposing the speed cap. CBS News also indicated its sources believe Musk held multiple conversations with administration officials leading up to the order because he wanted clarity on the president’s thinking.
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that after Ukraine complained about the impact of these restrictions, SpaceX and White House representatives coordinated on messaging. The goal was to reach a unified understanding that the company and the administration had coordinated ahead of the directive.
The debate over what Ukraine is actually using adds another layer of complexity. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Saturday that Ukraine uses only Starlink and does not currently have access to Starshield. However, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy maintains that his country uses Starshield and that the restrictions remain in place. He also notably bemoaned the Trump-Russia fuel deal.
Zelenskyy wrote in an X post on Monday that the limits affect units using Starlink/Starshield services. He noted, “Unfortunately, we have established that the equipment stops functioning at speeds of 130–161 kilometers per hour in various sectors of the front.” Zelenskyy’s office confirmed yesterday that the president spoke with Rubio to discuss the situation, which he says needs to be restored.
The White House press office reiterated Trump’s position today, stating, “As President Trump said, we didn’t slow down Starlink at all, and the service is currently operational.”
SpaceX has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Published: Oct 22, 2026 12:00 pm