Elon Musk reportedly ordered the throttling of a military-grade version of Starlink, a move that sent Ukraine into a panic and left the country dangerously exposed to Russian aggression, according to US officials.
The slowdown rendered some offensive and interceptor drones virtually ineffective, raising fears of Russian attacks. The satellite internet service is operated by SpaceX, Mr Musk's aerospace company, which provides high-speed broadband globally and is relied upon by Ukraine for military communications and drone operations.
Zelensky claims betrayal over Starlink slowdown
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week said he was "betrayed" by US President Donald Trump after his country's defences against Russia were weakened following the slowdown of Starlink services. The Ukrainian leader claimed that Mr Trump and ally Elon Musk deliberately blocked his country's access to Starlink overnight on October 14 after the military faced slowdowns in speed. Mr Zelensky said that his people could die if the unrestrictive service was not restored.
An informal inquiry within the White House was launched amid confusion over who had authorised the throttling. It has since emerged that Mr Musk capped the speeds at which Ukrainian hardware could connect to the satellite-based network, according to reports by the Wall Street Journal.
White House inquiry and Musk's response
The incident followed a series of remarks from the Trump administration and Mr Musk that were widely perceived as hostile towards Ukraine, prompting Kyiv to immediately suspect the order had originated from either the president or Mr Musk himself. The animosity between Mr Trump and Mr Musk towards the Ukrainian leader has intensified in recent weeks, as the president seeks to drive down diesel prices ahead of November's midterm elections. He pointed the finger squarely at Ukraine, blaming its strikes on Russian energy infrastructure for the surge in fuel costs.
It is understood the two influential Americans discussed the Starlink decision during a phone call shortly after the slowdown became public knowledge, according to two of the sources. One source also alleged the pair had spoken about the matter prior to the decision to throttle Starlink.
SpaceX representatives contacted the White House seeking a unified position and a coordinated message between the company and the Trump administration ahead of Mr Musk's directive, the sources claimed. Mr Musk took to X, which he also owns, and said, "Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS."
Officials allege Musk acted independently
Mr Trump told reporters that he did know who was responsible for the Starlink slowdown, adding that he "would like to find out." Several US officials have alleged that Mr Musk acted independently and that the president did not specifically order any form of retaliation against Ukraine.
One individual with knowledge of the matter revealed that Mr Musk held conversations with multiple senior administration figures, including Mr Trump himself, before imposing the new speed restrictions.
