Musk Says US Govt May Be Behind Delays in Ukraine Drone Speeds

Musk has said the US government may be limiting the speed of certain of Ukraine’s weaponry or their ability to stay connected to SpaceX’s Starlink internet network. Starlink has been a crucial tool for Kyiv to direct drones to Russian targets and to defend its own airspace, but Ukraine warned on Tuesday evening that unexpected new speed restrictions were hindering its operations on the battlefield.

One aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believed the limits were not incidental and tied to the ongoing tensions between Kyiv and Washington.

Starshield is the military-grade sister service to Starlink, which the US government runs. “Any limits on speed or usage are set by the US military and ultimately [the US president],” Musk stated. Musk’s SpaceX owns both companies, but Starlink is a consumer service that provides internet connectivity through satellites orbiting low above Earth, especially in rural locations, while Starshield is meant for governments and militaries.

Musk, who was replying on X, has been responding to calls from Ukrainian officials to re-establish connectivity, notably from Zelensky, who told UK media: “I hope that it’s a mistake, maybe [a] massive technical problem. I don’t know, but we’re requesting to… [turn] it on.”

Starlink, controlled by Musk’s SpaceX, limited speed on Tuesday night to 100mph (160km/h), meaning any weapons that travelled faster lost connectivity to the network.

Ukraine’s former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said it was substantially restored by Wednesday evening. He wrote on X that “Removing Starshield’s speed limit entirely is now critical for Ukraine’s defense, thanking Elon Musk and asking for his “continued support.

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