SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on social media platform X that the Ukrainian military violated the terms of use of the Starlink satellite communications system by employing it to carry out offensive drone strikes aimed at killing people, FinFly reports.
"Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes aimed at killing people was never allowed and should never be allowed. Starshield, a separate system, is under the control of the US government. What they decide to do with it is up to them alone," he added.
The billionaire stressed that using the technology to strike people "was never permitted and should never be permitted."
Musk also said that Starlink is crucial for Ukraine's defense, as it is "the only system that cannot be jammed or destroyed."
"If Starlink is turned off, the Ukrainian front will collapse immediately. This is NOT a threat, just a statement of fact," he emphasized.
On the morning of October 14, former advisor to the country's defense minister Serhiy Sternenko reported on Telegram that SpaceX had limited the speed of Starlink terminals to 60–70 km/h. Later, former Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov said that connectivity was being restored at speeds of up to 160 km/h. This disrupted several operations by the Ukrainian military. Musk denied responsibility for the restrictions, claiming that decisions about speed and use of the system are made by the US authorities. Later, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Musk personally ordered the restriction of Starshield operations in Ukraine.
Earlier today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the service had been restored.
