White House has denied any involvement in restrictions on Starlink in Ukraine, - Axios
The administration of US President Donald Trump has stated that it does not control SpaceX and is not involved in the restrictions on the operation of the Starlink satellite communications network in Ukraine. At the same time, Washington intends to contact Elon Musk’s company to ascertain the causes of the disruptions that have affected the operation of Ukrainian drones and military communications systems.
According to Censor.NET, Axios reports this, citing sources within the US presidential administration.
According to the publication, on Wednesday, senior advisers to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with representatives from the White House, the CIA and the Pentagon. The Ukrainian side sought to ascertain whether Washington had taken a decision to restrict satellite communications and how the situation could be rectified.
Axios’s sources reported that White House representatives denied having any control over SpaceX.
"White House representatives told the Ukrainians that they do not control SpaceX," the publication’s sources noted.
According to one of the sources, the Trump administration plans to contact SpaceX to find out what happened.
Starlink began losing connection whilst drones were in flight
Earlier, Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to the President of Ukraine and a specialist in radio technology, reported that on the night of 14 October, SpaceX had imposed restrictions on the operation of Starlink terminals.
He said that satellite connectivity began to drop out whilst drones were travelling at speeds exceeding 160 km/h, and in some cases even at speeds above 80 km/h. This significantly hampered the Ukrainian defence forces’ ability to carry out combat missions, particularly the use of interceptor drones.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also stated that the Starlink restrictions had become a problem for Ukraine. He said that Elon Musk’s decision to impose such restrictions was a mistake that could lead to loss of life.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has reported that the speed limit of 160 km/h remains in place. The ministry noted that it is maintaining contact with partners and SpaceX to ensure the stable provision of services and prevent sudden restrictions.
Ukrainian military report issues with Starshield
Ukraine is using both the civilian Starlink network and the military Starshield system on the front line. According to *Ukrainska Pravda*, the publication’s sources within the Defence Forces confirmed that Starshield’s operations had been restricted.
Ukrainian officials, as the publication notes, believe that SpaceX may have deliberately imposed restrictions to force Ukraine to agree to Trump’s demand not to attack Russian oil refineries. However, this version of events has not been independently confirmed.
Elon Musk himself, in a post on social media platform X, explained the differences between Starlink and Starshield and how they are controlled.
"Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any speed or usage restrictions are determined by the US military and, ultimately, the US President," Musk wrote.
Regarding Starlink, he noted that it is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX. According to Musk, its use is restricted to civilian or defence activities, and not to offensive military operations.
Sikorski publicly addressed Musk
Against this backdrop, Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski addressed Musk on the social media platform X, questioning the use of commercial products for political purposes.
"Hey, big man, are you playing politics with your products again? As your European customers, we are watching you." wrote the Polish minister.
