In short
- US President Donald Trump said Elon Musk had restored Ukraine’s Starlink internet access, telling reporters: “Bottom line, he put it back.”
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the speed of the military-grade Starshield network “has not been restored to 400 [km/h; 250mph] yet”, and that he was waiting to hear from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump called Musk and asked him to lift the restrictions, after speeds were capped at around 160km/h, according to officials; BBC News has not confirmed the report.
- Ukraine first reported an interruption to US intelligence sharing on 14 October.
- Starlink and Starshield use 10,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, and Ukraine uses both the civilian and the military-grade networks depending on its communications needs.
US President Donald Trump said Elon Musk has restored Ukraine’s Starlink internet access, after restrictions hampered Kyiv’s armed forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking earlier on Thursday, said connectivity to the military-grade Starshield network had not been fully restored and that he was waiting to hear from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
What did Donald Trump say about Starlink?
Donald Trump said Musk had put the service back, and refused to be drawn on a Wall Street Journal report that he had called Musk to ask him to lift the restrictions. “Bottom line, he put it back,” Trump said. The Trump administration had previously denied instructing Musk’s company to restrict access, and the White House has repeatedly said it did not order access to be restricted.
What did Volodymyr Zelensky say about Starshield speeds?
Volodymyr Zelensky said at a news conference earlier on Thursday that the speed available to Ukraine’s military “has not been restored to 400 [km/h; 250mph] yet”, adding: “We are working on it.” He also said: “I am waiting to hear from US Secretary of State [Marco] Rubio. He promised to get back to me with information within 48 hours or so.”
What did the Wall Street Journal report?
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump called Musk and asked him to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Starlink, telling him he was frustrated that speeds were still capped at around 160km/h, according to officials. The speed limit made Ukraine’s offensive drones and interceptors powerless against Russian attacks, the newspaper reported, and the system was working more normally on Thursday shortly after the conversation. BBC News has not confirmed the report and has contacted the White House and SpaceX.
Why was Ukraine’s Starlink access restricted?
The connectivity restrictions came as Trump put pressure on Zelensky to stop Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, which Trump has argued have caused prices to rise. With midterm elections due next month, Trump has waived some sanctions on Russia and agreed a deal to import Russian diesel for the US market, a move criticised by Ukraine and its European allies. Ukraine first reported an interruption to US intelligence sharing on 14 October.
Who controls access to Starshield?
Musk said last week that the US government ultimately controls access to Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink used for some Ukrainian operations, and that the system was designed for the Pentagon — suggesting the US military may be behind the restrictions. In earlier remarks saying the US military sets any Starshield speed limits for Ukraine, Musk denied that he was behind the slowdown, which affects Ukraine’s ability to use drones to attack Russian targets inside Ukraine and to defend itself against attacks.
What are Starlink and Starshield?
Ukraine uses both the civilian Starlink service and the more secure Starshield network, depending on what communications are needed. The two networks rely on 10,000 satellites in low Earth orbit to provide connectivity, particularly in remote areas and on battlefields. Modern warfare often depends on high-speed internet to operate drones effectively.
Frequently asked questions
Did Elon Musk restore Ukraine’s Starlink access?
US President Donald Trump said Musk had put the service back after restrictions hampered Kyiv’s armed forces. Musk had previously denied being behind the slowdown, and the White House has said it did not order access to be restricted.
What is the difference between Starlink and Starshield?
Starlink is the civilian satellite internet service, while Starshield is the more secure, military-grade version designed for the Pentagon. Ukraine uses both, depending on its communications needs.
How fast was Ukraine’s Starshield connection capped?
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials, that Trump told Musk he was frustrated speeds were still capped at around 160km/h. Zelensky said the speed had not been restored to 400 km/h (250mph).
Who controls access to Starshield?
Elon Musk said last week that the US government ultimately controls access to Starshield, which was designed for the Pentagon, suggesting the US military may be behind the restrictions.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)