American billionaire Elon Musk personally ordered to restrict the speed of the military version of the Starlink satellite network (Starshield), which the Ukrainian military relies on. This is reported by The Wall Street Journal citing several informed sources, with RBC-Ukraine, TSN, and other media referencing the data. According to sources, the restrictions were introduced on October 14, 2026, and led to the fact that some of the offensive drones and interceptor drones used for defense against Russian attacks became practically useless. Ukrainian sources claim that the communication slowdown allowed Russian missiles to bypass Ukraine's air defense systems.
Phone Call with Trump and "Panic" in Kyiv
According to WSJ data, Musk and US President Donald Trump discussed the Starlink restriction decision in a phone call. One source claims that both discussed the issue even before the decision to slow down was made. Shortly after news of the restrictions broke, public statements by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — specifically that Ukrainian soldiers could die if service is not restored — caused widespread confusion within the Trump administration regarding who exactly gave the order to slow down. According to the publication, an unofficial investigation was launched inside the White House.
Coordination Between SpaceX and the White House
WSJ sources report that during the scandal, SpaceX representatives contacted White House colleagues, aiming for a unified understanding of the situation and a coordinated public message. According to the publication, the company and the Trump administration "coordinated" their position even before Musk's formal order. A few hours after news of the slowdown emerged, Musk himself wrote on social media that any restrictions are determined by the US military. Meanwhile, Trump told journalists that he does not know who is to blame for the Starlink malfunction but would like to find out.
Pentagon Position and Hegseth's Statements
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated on October 20, 2026, that US policy toward Ukraine has not changed. He emphasized that Washington has not given any orders to restrict Starlink for Ukraine. Some US officials, according to WSJ, claim that Musk acted unilaterally and that Trump gave no directives regarding Ukraine. However, another source familiar with the situation says that Musk spoke with several high-ranking administration officials, including Trump, before introducing the new speed restriction.
Context: Zelenskyy and Rubio Talks
Against the backdrop of the scandal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. During the talk, topics of intelligence regarding Russian ballistics and interceptor missiles were touched upon, and the issue of restoring Starlink operations for the Ukrainian armed forces was discussed. The situation remains one of the most acute in US-Ukrainian relations at the current stage, as the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian army directly depend on the uninterrupted operation of satellite communications.
