Did Elon Musk block Starlink access in Ukraine? Here is what he claims

Elon Musk has responded to claims of SpaceX restricting Ukraine’s access to Starlink’s services, disrupting the country’s military operations against Russia. On X, the SpaceX chief clarified that the services restricted from the use of Ukraine’s forces were not by his company, and were likely curbed by the US government.In a reply on X, Musk pointed out that it was Starshield that was restricted in Ukraine and not Starlink. Starshield, which uses the same network of satellites, is the government version of the satellite internet service.Elon Musk says US government controls StarshieldUnlike Starlink, which is owned and controlled by SpaceX, Musk said, Starshield was under US government control. “Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government," Elon Musk wrote in a reply to Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The tech trillionaire suggested that any restrictions on Starshield must be decided or approved by the US military and President Donald Trump. “Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” he added. Elon Musk clarified SpaceX did not restrict Starlink access to Ukraine. On October 14, Ukraine said it faced restrictions for Starshield without warning, affecting drones used for strikes and air defence. As per Ukrainian officials, speed limits were reduced to 100mph (160km/h), meaning any weapons that travelled faster than that lost connectivity to the network. “I hope that it’s a mistake, maybe a huge technical problem,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He later called the restriction “a big mistake,” adding,“This decision will bring a lot of human losses.” Musk clarified that Starlink, which is under SpaceX’s control, cannot be used for any offensive capabilities. “Usage of Starlink is limited to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action,” Elon Musk explained. “Doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial company.”In another exchange, Musk replied “True” to an X post which said SpaceX had no obligation to help Ukraine but had stepped in when governments “dragged their feet.” The post added that Ukraine accounted “for only a micro fraction of SpaceX’s revenue,” while the company faced the “risks of operating amid Russian attacks and geopolitical pressure.” Starlink has been a crucial asset for Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Ukrainian forces use the network for communication and drone operations. While Elon Musk has clarified that his company did not block or restrict access, the US government has not commented on the matter just yet.This incident comes at a time when Elon Musk is pushing to bring Starlink to other countries, and India in particular. The SpaceX CEO has accused Indian oligarchs of trying to block Starlink’s launch in India as the service waits for security clearances. Though the Government of India has dismissed such claims. Starlink has also said that it has set up infrastructure in the country for the service already.- Ends