Image source: Reuters
Billionaire Elon Musk has suggested that the recent slowdown in the speed of some Ukrainian weapons and restrictions on connections through the Starlink internet network may be influenced by the US government.
The drones operated to damage Russian targets and maintain Ukrainian air defenses rely heavily on Starlink, which is an extremely crucial tool for Kyiv.
However, Ukraine reported Tuesday night that unexpected new restrictions on drone speed have started to affect the ongoing conflict.
A Ukrainian presidential advisor stated these restrictions are unlikely to be coincidental and linked to rising tensions between Kyiv and Washington.
According to Musk, the military-grade sister service of Starlink, Starshield, which is controlled by the US government, has speed and usage limits that “are determined by the US military and the President.”
Request from Ukraine
In response to appeals from Ukrainian officials and President Zelensky to restore connectivity, Musk posted on social media platform X.
Regarding Ukraine’s request, President Zelensky told British media, “I hope it’s either a mistake or a major technical issue. I’m not sure, but we are requesting the restoration.”
SpaceX-operated Starlink on Tuesday night limited the speed to 100 mph, meaning weapons moving faster than that lost connectivity with the network.
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported that by Wednesday evening, connectivity had been partially restored.
“Completely lifting the Starshield speed limit is extremely important for Ukraine’s security,” he wrote on X and also expressed gratitude to Musk for his continued support.
Musk’s Defense
About an hour later, Musk defended his company’s role through social media.
“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or use are determined by the US military and ultimately the US President,” he stated.
Starlink is “only for non-military and defensive purposes and cannot be used for offensive military actions because such behaviour would be inappropriate for a commercial company.”
The US government has not yet issued an official response on the matter.
The restrictions imposed Tuesday night followed a deadly attack Russia launched against Ukraine, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties in Kyiv.
Officials reported that communication and energy centers used by the Ukrainian military were targeted.
President Zelensky described the Russian assault as “one of the largest attacks” on Ukraine, adding that “many drones were shot down” and “some successfully hit their targets.”
At least 600,000 people in Ukraine were left without electricity. They had received no prior warning of the incoming drone attack.
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