SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated on Saturday that the company has restricted Ukraine from using its high-speed technology because Kiev has violated the service terms of Starlink.
Musk posted on X, saying: 'The Ukrainian military violated the Starlink terms of service and used it to launch offensive drone attacks and kill people. This vulnerability was patched last week.'
He added, " SpaceX has done far more in defending Ukraine than any private company on Earth."
Ukrainian officials stated earlier in the day that the satellite communication systems Starlink and Starshield of SpaceX had resumed high-speed service. The previous day, they had indicated that the service was still under speed restrictions. Ukrainian officials said that the interruption in service made the country more vulnerable to Russian attacks.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense stated in a statement: "The Ministry's monitoring system officially recorded that the speed of Starlink / Starshield has been restored." The statement also mentioned: "During the movement of the devices, the connection remained stable, with speeds exceeding 400 kilometers per hour (249 miles per hour)."
A statement added: "Previously, the monitoring system recorded that Starlink / Starshield were operating with limitations. Now the speed indicators have returned to normal."
Starlink is a broader commercial satellite internet network compared to SpaceX, while Starshield is a product based on Starlink technology, targeted at government services.
Before Musk announced this news, it was unclear who had ordered the restriction on high-speed services. Initially, Musk blamed the United States government on social media, while U.S. President Donald Trump claimed to be completely unaware of it.
On Saturday, Trump told White House reporters in Florida that he confirmed a report by The Wall Street Journal this week, which stated that he had asked Musk to relax restrictions: "I talked to Elon Musk."
SpaceX did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for a comment.
Since October 14th, Ukrainian officials have been accusing SpaceX of weakening Ukraine's self-defense capabilities by imposing speed restrictions on the military version Starshield of its Starlink satellite internet service. Officials stated that any drone traveling at a speed exceeding 100 miles per hour would lose connectivity, thereby interfering with certain missions.
Dmitry Alperovich, chairman of the Washington think tank Silverado Policy Accelerator and an expert in energy, defense technology, and global trade, stated that there were still issues with Ukraine's Starshield terminals on Friday.
"It's getting harder."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X on Friday stating that the restrictions regarding Starlink and Starshield "are still in place," and added, "The speed has not yet returned to normal." He noted that Ukraine is still waiting for the United States to deliver the missile interceptors that have been agreed upon.
Zelensky wrote: "Things have become more difficult—partially due to the policies and speed restrictions of Starlink and Starshield. But our front lines are still holding strong, and I am proud of the resilience of our people."
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense stated that it will continue to monitor the operation of these systems.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevgeny Hramal said in a statement: "This result is particularly important for our front lines, military forces, drone operations, logistics, and communications."
Members of both parties in the United States have called for a formal investigation into Musk and SpaceX, as the company is alleged to have unilaterally changed its services in Ukraine.
