Musk Ordered Starshield Slowdown for Ukraine, WSJ Reports
WASHINGTON: Elon Musk ordered the Starshield Ukraine slowdown, the *Wall Street Journal* reported on Tuesday, after the tech billionaire had said any limits on the SpaceX-operated communications system would ultimately have come from the president.
Musk capped the speed at which Ukrainian equipment could connect to the system, making some of Kyiv’s drones useless, the *Journal* reported, citing anonymous US officials and people familiar with the matter.
Kyiv has accused Washington of deliberately causing the Starshield Ukraine slowdown. That charge was denied last week by US President Donald Trump. Musk had previously said that “any limits on speed or usage” of Starshield systems were “decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS”, referring to Trump.
Denials from Washington
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in India, said Washington had no prior knowledge of the slowdown. “The president has nothing to do with the decisions that are made by Starlink and Starshield and by Mr Musk,” he said. “That’s a private company; the president doesn’t run that company.”
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon had not directed any changes: “We haven’t pulled anything back.” Trump said last week he did not request curbs: “It wasn’t me. And I don’t think it was Elon.”
Kyiv reported the restrictions last week, shortly after Trump criticised Ukraine and urged it to stop targeting Russian oil refineries. Ukraine sees the service as crucial to fending off Moscow’s invasion.
How the Starshield Ukraine slowdown hit the battlefield
Last week, Musk capped the speeds at which Ukrainian hardware could stay connected. Drones flying faster than 100 miles an hour lost their video feed, the *Journal* reported.
In one incident, six Ukrainian drones flew toward a Russian army warehouse on Monday and lost connection at speed. Four reached the target’s vicinity and one struck it; the unit’s commander lost contact with the rest.
For the past week, Ukrainian drone units have had to fly more slowly, and the Russians are shooting the drones down more often as a result. Military analysts cited by the paper say the disruption is having a significant impact on Kyiv’s defences.
The distinction matters. Starlink is the commercial service; Starshield is the military-grade variant. Ukraine uses its basic tier, which rides on Starlink satellites but offers encryption and higher equipment speeds, with no speed restrictions until last week. That made it crucial for midrange drone strikes, including interceptors that hunt Russian Shahed-type craft.
Lawmakers demand a probe
The report has triggered bipartisan calls for an investigation in Washington. Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick said Congress should put Musk and other witnesses under oath. “We got to get to the bottom of it because this is a very, very serious matter,” he told CNN.
Senator Adam Schiff called for a Senate investigation and for Musk to testify under oath. Senator Chris Coons said he was considering subpoenas, questioning why one man holds “the same power of one of our four-star generals” over the conflict.
Musk responded on X on Wednesday: “Some fools still think the legacy news is real. Amazing.” It was not immediately clear whether he meant the *Journal’s* report. SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The *Journal* also reported that Musk and Trump discussed the Starlink decision in a call soon after the slowdown became public. One source claimed the two had discussed the matter even before the decision to throttle the network.
The row caps a tense stretch: Musk told Zelensky to leave Ukraine this month, Kyiv accused Washington of aiding Russian strikes, while US-mediated talks are due to resume as Washington pauses new Russia sanctions.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Wall Street Journal report about Musk and Starshield?
The *Journal* reported that Elon Musk ordered a slowdown of Starshield services for Ukraine, capping connection speeds so that some Ukrainian drones became useless, citing US officials and people familiar with the matter.
What is the difference between Starlink and Starshield?
Starlink is SpaceX’s commercial satellite internet service. Starshield is its military-grade variant for governments; Ukraine uses a basic tier offering encryption and higher equipment speeds, which until last week had no speed restrictions.
How has the slowdown affected Ukraine’s drones?
Drones flying faster than 100 miles an hour lose their video feed, forcing pilots to fly slower. Ukrainian units report more drones being shot down as a result.
Are US lawmakers investigating the Starshield slowdown?
Bipartisan voices, including Republican Brian Fitzpatrick and Democrats Adam Schiff and Chris Coons, have called for a congressional investigation and for Musk to testify under oath.
