Ukraine rejects Elon Musk's claim of Starlink terms violation

Ukraine's defence technology adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the civilian Starlink network cannot be used for offensive drone strikes because of built-in speed restrictions, countering SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's recent claim that the Ukrainian military violated Starlink's terms of service.

"It's very strange that Elon Musk doesn't know about the restrictions on Starlink's operation in Ukraine," the adviser wrote on Telegram. He explained that drones operating via Starlink are limited to speeds of 70-90 km/h within Ukraine and cannot function in Russia, making deep or medium-range strikes physically impossible. Musk had earlier stated that SpaceX had throttled Starlink in Ukraine and that using the civilian service for offensive strikes was never allowed. He also said the U.S. government controlled changes to Starshield, the military-grade version of the service used for drone operations. President Donald Trump said he did not order the throttling, while Vice-President JD Vance hinted at coordination with Musk. The recent restrictions on Starshield caused disruptions to Ukrainian drones and heightened tensions between Kyiv and Washington. The restoration of Starlink service coincided with renewed diplomatic efforts, including a three-way negotiation framework involving the United States, Ukraine and Russia, and a localized ceasefire in the Kherson region brokered by First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Francis. Zelenskyy reported a surge in Russian drone attacks, citing nearly 2,300 drones over the past week and calling on Western allies to accelerate interceptor deliveries. Recent strikes in several Ukrainian regions resulted in civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.