Elon Musk reportedly caps Starlink speeds for Ukraine after discussion with Trump administration

SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk ordered a reduction in the data speeds of a Starlink variant that Ukraine has depended on in its conflict with Russia, according to a report citing U.S. officials and sources familiar with the matter. The speed cap, implemented last week, reportedly rendered some Ukrainian drones unable to operate effectively.

Musk is said to have discussed the throttling with multiple senior officials in the Trump administration, including President Donald Trump, shortly after the change became public, two people told the newspaper. The White House and a Musk-associated email did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

President Trump said on Monday that he was unaware of who directed the Starlink interruption and expressed a desire to learn more. The report noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly complained that the slowdown weakens Ukraine's defenses, prompting an informal White House inquiry.

In a separate post on X, Musk stated that the military-grade Starshield system is "owned and controlled by the US government" and that any speed or usage limits are "decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS."