Reports that the White House ordered restrictions on Ukraine’s Starshield satellite service remain disputed, after the SpaceX-operated military network was slowed without warning and later partly restored. The limits affected Ukrainian battlefield communications and drones travelling faster than 100 mph (160 km/h), disrupting strike and interceptor-drone operations in Ukraine.
Two US officials and a Western official briefed on the matter told Reuters that Pentagon leaders received instructions from inside the White House to slow Starshield for the Ukrainian military. The sources did not identify the decision-maker. A senior US official rejected any suggestion that President Donald Trump had requested the measure, while Ukrainian officials said Kyiv was told the decision came from the White House.
Elon Musk maintained that Starshield is owned and controlled by the US government, with speed and usage limits determined by the US military and ultimately the president. SpaceX operates the service under a US defence contract, distinguishing it from the commercial Starlink network.
The restriction was imposed overnight from 13 to 14 October and reportedly caused moving terminals to lose connectivity above the speed threshold. Ukrainian defence officials later reported that operation while moving had been restored, although it remained unclear whether all speed limits had been removed. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth assured him on 15 October that Ukraine’s access had been restored. The White House and Pentagon had not publicly explained who ordered the restriction.