SpaceX Restores Ukraine Internet After Seven-Day Throttle

Elon Musk acknowledged on Saturday that SpaceX ordered a seven-day reduction in Starlink internet speeds for Ukraine. The admission clarified the source of a service disruption that affected critical military communications and drone operations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the restoration of full access to Starlink and Starshield satellite links. He stated that the process began overnight and was complete by Saturday morning. Zelenskyy noted that the previous restrictions had hindered front-line logistics and the defense against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones for more than a week.

Musk defended the decision by citing company policy. He wrote that using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes has never been permitted. He claimed the Ukrainian military violated the terms of service and that the loophole was closed the previous week. Musk maintained that the U.S. government controls changes to Starshield, the military-grade version of the service.

The interruption caused alarm among Ukrainian military and government officials. Commanders reported lost drones and disrupted missions during the period of reduced bandwidth. The incident occurred while a new U.S. diplomatic effort sought to end the war. Russia agreed to resume three-way talks with Washington and Kyiv next month, and both sides accepted a localized ceasefire around the town of Oleshky in the Kherson region.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara attributed the resolution to direct dialogue and Zelenskyy’s diplomacy with Washington. He emphasized the importance of the fix for military drones, logistics, and communications. The episode added to existing tensions between Kyiv and Washington, which have been strained by a reported U.S. deal on Russian diesel imports.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated he did not make the decision but argued Musk should not be blamed. Vice-President JD Vance suggested White House coordination, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denied administration involvement.

Fighting continued in the region. Local officials reported one man killed and two wounded in a missile attack on Lozova in the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian forces struck a chemical plant in Tolyatti and an electronics plant in Oryol, where three people died. A drone also attacked a logistics center for retailer Ozon in the Omsk region, located more than 2,000 kilometers from the border.