Elon Musk has reportedly restricted Ukraine’s access to SpaceX’s Starshield satellite communications system, affecting the operation of some Ukrainian drones amid growing tensions between Kyiv and Washington.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing anonymous US officials and people familiar with the matter, that Musk limited the speed at which Ukrainian equipment could connect to the military-grade satellite system, rendering some of Kyiv’s drones ineffective.
The development comes as Ukraine continues to rely on satellite communications to coordinate battlefield operations and counter Russia’s invasion.
Ukraine had accused Washington of deliberately slowing the service, which it considers critical to its military operations. However, US President Donald Trump denied requesting any restrictions, while senior officials maintained that the administration had no prior knowledge of the reported changes.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a visit to India on Wednesday, said neither Trump nor the US government directed the alleged slowdown.
“The president has nothing to do with the decisions that are made by Starlink and Starshield and by Mr. Musk,” Rubio said.
He added that SpaceX is a private company and insisted that Washington had no advance knowledge of the reported restrictions.
Similarly, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that the Pentagon had not ordered any changes to Starshield, maintaining that the department had neither withdrawn services nor issued directives to that effect.
Trump had also denied involvement, saying he did not request restrictions on the system and expressing doubt that Musk had initiated them.
Musk, however, had previously stated that any restrictions on the speed or usage of Starshield systems were determined by the US military and ultimately the president, leaving questions over responsibility for the reported limitations.
Ukraine uses Starshield, the military-grade satellite communications service, to support battlefield communications, mid-range strikes against Russian-occupied territory and interceptor drone operations. The country also relies on SpaceX’s civilian Starlink satellite network.
The reported restrictions emerged last week, shortly after Trump criticised Ukraine and urged it to stop targeting Russian oil refineries, further highlighting the strain in relations between Washington and Kyiv.
Tensions have also intensified following Trump’s call for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be replaced after Zelensky criticised a US deal that would allow more Russian diesel into global markets.
The latest development underscores the strategic importance of satellite communications in modern warfare, as uncertainty over access to critical technology raises concerns about Ukraine’s operational capabilities and its continued reliance on privately operated infrastructure.