World

Elon Musk orders slowdown of Starlink in Ukraine

Musk's decision has caught Ukraine off guard, as it relies on Starlink for military operations.

21 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Elon Musk orders slowdown of Starlink in Ukraine — Archive photoPhoto: Roberto DI MICELI · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk has ordered a limitation of the Starlink service used by Ukraine. This measure has reportedly taken Ukrainian authorities by surprise, as the country relies on this technology for field communications and drone operations.

Sources indicated that Musk, founder of SpaceX, discussed the decision with U.S. President Donald Trump shortly after the slowdown became public. During this conversation, they also addressed concerns related to security and ongoing operations in Ukraine.

Multiple sources mention that Musk acted unilaterally to impose these restrictions on service capabilities, while others suggest there was no direct instruction from the White House regarding this action.

Musk's approach has elicited panic in Kyiv and also generated confusion within the Trump administration. Some U.S. officials have denied ordering a reduction in satellite services, stating there had been no indication from the U.S. government regarding this slowdown.

Although there has been criticism from both Musk and Trump directed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it remains unclear whether these positions directly influenced the decision to limit access to Starlink.

The slowdown of Starlink has impacted Ukrainian military operations, making drone usage less effective. This decision marks a significant shift in the availability of support for Ukraine, which could have major repercussions on the battlefield.

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