Elon Musk has clarified that any restrictions on Ukraine's use of the Starshield satellite communications system are imposed by the US government, not by his company SpaceX. In a post on X, Musk stated: "Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," referring to President Donald Trump.
The distinction matters because Ukraine relies on Starshield for battlefield communications, while the separate Starlink civilian network—also built by SpaceX—is used for general connectivity but is not permitted for offensive operations. Musk's comments came in response to a post by Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's former defence minister, who said that "Starlink connectivity at speeds of up to 160 km/h is being restored," but that "removing Starshield's speed limit entirely is now critical for Ukraine's defence." Fedorov thanked Musk for his "continued support."
Speed limits and military impact
Ukrainian defence officials have suggested that Washington is behind the slower speeds reported on some internet terminals that help the military strike Russian-occupied territory and operate interceptor drones. The speed restrictions could hamper Ukraine's ability to coordinate drone attacks and respond to fast-moving threats.
Kyiv has also accused the United States of failing to warn it about incoming missile strikes, with the capital hit by ballistic missiles for two nights in a row before air raid sirens could sound. Trump denied on Tuesday that the US had stopped sharing such intelligence, but a senior official in Kyiv confirmed that Washington had recently threatened to cut off that support.
The row comes as Russia accused Ukraine of attacking two oil refineries in breach of the so-called "energy ceasefire," a claim Kyiv dismissed as "fake," saying that other sites had been hit "but the refineries were not."
Meanwhile, Kyiv dealt with the aftermath of an overnight Russian attack that killed at least one person and injured more than 20 others. A large fire broke out in a residential building after shelling, and the strikes targeted the Darnytska CHP-4 plant, which supplies the capital with heating and electricity, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russia said it had shot down 900 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 180 near Moscow.
Political fallout in Washington and Europe
Opposition Democrats in the US Senate and House condemned the Trump administration over the reported interrupted connections. Trump, facing key midterm elections next month in which fuel prices are a major issue, has blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for the squeeze on supplies and the rise in prices at the pump.
In Rome, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticised the US-Russia deal on the purchase of Russian diesel, calling it "a very risky choice" and "a legitimisation for Moscow while its bombs are still falling on Ukrainian cities." Speaking in Parliament before heading to Brussels for the European Council, Meloni warned of an "implicit weakening of the sanctions lever," which she said runs counter to what has so far been done, including by the United States, "to push Putin to sit down at the negotiating table."
Meloni's remarks highlight growing European unease over Washington's approach to the war. As EU leaders prepare to confront the energy crisis and budget deadlock, the question of how to support Ukraine while managing domestic pressures remains central. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has also pressed allies to boost air defence for Ukraine, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
The Starshield controversy adds another layer of tension between Kyiv and Washington, with Ukraine's military increasingly dependent on US-provided technology and intelligence. Whether the speed limits will be lifted remains unclear, but the issue is likely to feature in discussions at the European Council, where leaders will weigh their own responses to the conflict.
