Ukraine Internet: Musk Admits to Cutting Starlink Speeds

Elon Musk confirmed on Saturday that SpaceX deliberately slowed the Starlink internet service in Ukraine.

The space company restricted data speeds for more than a week, a move Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said hampered front-line operations. Zelenskyy announced on social media that access to both Starlink and Starshield satellite links had returned to normal levels. He noted that the restoration began overnight and was complete by Saturday morning, improving logistics and defence against Russian Shahed drones.

Musk defended the restriction by arguing that Starlink is a civilian commercial service, not a military tool. "Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be," he wrote in a post. He stated that the Ukrainian military violated terms of service by using the system for such strikes and that the loophole was closed last week.

The situation created tension over who controlled the changes. Musk maintained that the U.S. government controlled any modifications to Starshield, the military-grade version of the technology. Ukrainian commanders reported lost drones and disrupted missions during the slowdown. Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara credited direct dialogue and Zelenskyy's diplomacy for resolving the issue, saying the outcome mattered most for military drones and communications.

The incident occurred during a diplomatic push to end the war. Russia agreed to resume three-way talks with Washington and Kyiv next month. Additionally, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a localized ceasefire around Oleshky in the Kherson region, a move brokered by U.S. first lady Melania Trump.

Washington officials offered mixed accounts of the administration's role. President Donald Trump said he did not make the call but that Musk should not be blamed. Vice-President JD Vance hinted at White House coordination, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denied any administration involvement.

Fighting continued across the front line. A missile attack on Lozova in the Kharkiv region killed one man and wounded two others. Ukrainian drones reached Omsk region, more than 2,000 kilometres from the border, where a drone attacked an Ozon logistics centre. Ukrainian forces also struck a chemical plant in Tolyatti and an electronics plant in Oryol, where local officials reported three deaths.