Elon says Ukraine misused Starlink to ‘kill people’, warns front-line collapse

By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – SpaceX chief executive and Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Sunday has acknowledged restrictions on Starlink access in Ukraine, accused Kyiv’s military of exploiting the satellite internet service for offensive drone strikes and warned that a complete shutdown could cause Ukraine’s front line to collapse.

Ukrainian officials reported stable satellite connections at speeds above 400 km/h after disruptions affected drone missions.

The questions remain over who authorized the restrictions.

Musk said that a loophole which allegedly allowed Ukrainian forces to use the civilian network for attacks had been closed the previous week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Starlink and its military-focused counterpart, star shield, had returned to normal operating speeds after restrictions that disrupted battlefield operations.

The dispute has exposed Ukraine’s reliance on satellite communication systems operated by SpaceX, also raised questions about control over technology essential to its war against Russia.

Musk alleged that Ukraine had breached Starlink’s terms of service by using the network to support offensive drone attacks.

Musk wrote on X “Ukraine’s military violated Starlink’s terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week”.

He maintained that Starlink was a civilian commercial service and should not be used to conduct lethal offensive strikes.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov disputed the accusation said Ukraine was physically unable to use Starlink for medium- and long-range attack drone operations.

Ukraine’s military and Defence Ministry did not immediately comment on Musk’s allegation, according to media reports.

Musk distinguished Starlink from Starshield, the military-focused system used by the United States government.

He said decisions concerning Starshield’s military use were the responsibility of Washington.

Musk argued that Starlink remained indispensable to the country’s defence despite accusing Ukraine of misusing the service.

“Were Starlink to be turned off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately. This is NOT a threat, it is simply a statement of fact,” he wrote.

Musk said the satellite network had helped Ukraine maintain communications during the initial stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, when Russian attacks and electronic interference disrupted other communication systems.

He also claimed that SpaceX had contributed more to Ukraine’s defence than any other private company.

Musk warning underscored the potential military consequences of losing access to a satellite network used for front-line communications and drone operations.

Zelenskyy said that both systems had recovered the operating speeds Ukraine needed after more than a week of restrictions.

According to Ukrainian officials, the limitations had interrupted drone missions and affected the military’s ability to counter Russian aerial attacks.

Ukraine’s Defence Ministry subsequently reported stable satellite connections on equipment travelling at speeds exceeding 400 kilometres per hour.

Zelenskyy credited international partners, including officials in the United States, for helping resolve the disruption.

He said restoring the satellite services was particularly important for front-line logistics and protection against Russian attack drones.

The restrictions had prevented some Ukrainian equipment from maintaining connections at higher travel speeds, complicating military operations.

The dispute has also triggered questions about who authorised the limitations.

Media reported that the order to restrict Starshield originated within the White House, while public statements from Musk and US officials offered differing accounts of responsibility.

US President Donald Trump said that he would intervene if problems with Ukraine’s satellite communications persisted.

Musk acknowledged closing a loophole in Starlink’s service, responsibility for the separate Starshield restrictions remains contested.

The episode came after tensions between Washington and Kyiv over Ukraine’s military operations and the future of American support for its defence.

Musk also intensified his criticism of the war, condemning those he accused of promoting continued bloodshed without offering a realistic solution.

He alleged that some American financial assistance intended for Ukraine was being diverted back to the United States to finance political campaigns.

Elon Musk did not publicly provide evidence identifying the alleged transactions or beneficiaries.