Elon Musk urged to restore Starlink for Ukraine amid tensions with Donald Trump
London: Ukraine has suffered a severe disruption to Starlink networks run by tech titan Elon Musk after days of dispute with US President Donald Trump, raising fears the company or the Pentagon are “throttling” services to help Russia.
Ukrainian forces cancelled missions after losing access to high-speed services from Musk’s satellite company, government officials in Kyiv said, after the world’s richest man backed Trump in criticising Ukraine for attacking Russian targets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the surprise slowdown and warned that more civilians would be killed if Musk did not act to restore full Starlink services to Ukrainian forces.
“We understand what is going on – they switched off, it’s their decision,” Zelensky told media host Piers Morgan in an interview aired late on Wednesday in London (about 3.30am on Thursday, AEDT) amid escalating concerns about the risk to Ukraine’s military capacity.
“People will die, of course, if attacks will continue and if Starlink will not work.”
Zelensky urged Musk to undo the “mistake” and prevent a “huge tactical problem” from leaving civilians exposed to greater Russian attacks.
The satellite problems came hours after Zelensky revealed a separate halt to the usual supply of western intelligence about looming Russian missile and drone attacks, saying there was “no warning” of some of the latest strikes.
The two developments fuelled concerns about decisions in Washington that could restrict Ukraine’s military capacity at a time when Trump wants Zelensky to stop hitting Russian oil refineries.
Ukraine depends on Starlink, which is part of the SpaceX group controlled by Musk, to guide missiles and drones that strike targets in parts of Ukraine occupied by Russian forces, and to support defensive drones to intercept Russian attacks.
“SpaceX implemented speed restrictions on Starlink terminals while in motion last night,” said presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov on social media on Wednesday morning (late that night, AEDT).
“Currently, the restriction applies to the StarShield ‘military service package’ and limits speed to 100 miles per hour (160 kilometres per hour).
“Obviously, this action cannot be a coincidence and is associated with the current political situation.”
While Musk has clashed with Trump at times, he backed the US president in recent days in calling on Ukraine to replace Zelensky.
“I agree, time for Ukraine to get a new leader,” Musk said on Sunday. When Trump said the attacks on oil refineries should stop, Musk posted: “Zelensky has gone too far.”
The military-grade services on the Starlink satellite network are known as StarShield and are controlled by the Pentagon, leading to speculation that the “throttling” was the result of decisions by the US government rather than Musk.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called on Musk to ensure Ukraine gained the services it needed.
“Hey, @elonmusk, big man, are you playing politics with your products again?” Sikorski asked on X. “As your European customers, we are watching you.”
The disruptions increased concerns in Kyiv about more strikes on civilians when Ukrainian defenders lacked full capacity.
Access to Starlink is a key factor in Ukraine’s ability to aim drones and missiles at Russian targets, but Musk has been accused in the past of using his personal power to intervene in the war.
Reuters reported last year that Musk gave an order to his staff in September 2022 that cut coverage to Ukrainian forces at a pivotal moment in their attempt to retake Kherson and other areas near the Black Sea.
Russian forces lost access to Starlink this year, although the full impact of this change was unclear. The service can be so vital that the BBC reported that Russian soldiers would try to bribe Ukrainian collaborators to gain access to a Starlink terminal.
Russia fired 39 ballistic missiles and 120 drones at Ukrainian targets on Tuesday night, Zelensky said on Wednesday. He said 600,000 people were without power as a result of the latest strikes, despite Trump’s claim that both sides had agreed to an energy ceasefire.
Six people were killed and thirteen injured in Lutsk in western Ukraine on Wednesday, Zelensky said, when a drone hit a residential building and store.
Zelensky gained public support in the UK on Wednesday when he visited London and spoke with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace before holding talks with Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Downing Street.
Burnham announced a faster delivery plan for British missiles that could help Ukraine intercept Russian jet-powered drones, but he avoided any move that might provoke Trump.
When Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey asked Burnham in parliament if he agreed that the latest moves in the US were “another shameful Trump betrayal” of the Ukrainian people, the prime minister was cautious in response.
Burnham said it was a “very dark and difficult moment” for Zelensky, but he made no criticism of Trump.
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David Crowe is Europe correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via X or email.