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Elon Musk says Ukraine’s military violated Starlink’s terms of service

Space1 min read

Elon Musk says Ukraine's military broke Starlink's rules by using it for offensive drone strikes. Ukrainian officials deny this, and say they could not have done it.

What happened

Elon Musk, the head of SpaceX, said Ukraine's military violated the terms of service for Starlink, the satellite internet service. He said the military used it for drone strikes that killed people, and that this 'loophole' was closed last week. Ukrainian officials deny this. They also say it is not technically possible for them to do this with Starlink.

Why the fight started

About two weeks before Musk's claim, Ukrainian officials said SpaceX had limited the military's satellite internet. They said this disrupted its drone missions. Ukraine uses Starlink for messages, supply tracking, and defense against incoming drones. For attack missions, officials say Ukraine uses Starshield, a version of Starlink controlled by the US military.

Key facts

  • Starlink works only with devices moving between 70 and 90 kilometers per hour (about 43 to 55 miles per hour), according to Ukrainian defense adviser Serhii Beskrestnov.
  • Starlink does not work in Russia, Beskrestnov said.
  • After the limit was lifted, Ukraine's military can connect to devices moving faster than 400 km/h (248 mph), according to the Kyiv Independent.
  • Zelenskyy said on Saturday that Starlink and Starshield services were fully restored.

What officials said

Musk first blamed the US government for the slowdown. President Donald Trump said he 'wasn't involved' and did not know who limited SpaceX's services. The Wall Street Journal later reported that Trump asked Musk to lift the restrictions on Ukraine.

Why it matters

This story shows how much modern war depends on private companies. One businessman's choices about a satellite network can change how a country fights. It also raises questions about who controls these tools and who is responsible when they are limited.

Glossary

Starshield
A version of Starlink controlled by the US military, which Ukraine says it uses for attack missions.
SpaceX
A company led by Elon Musk that builds rockets and runs the Starlink satellite internet service.
terms of service
The rules a user must agree to when using a service, such as Starlink.
Kyiv Independent
A news outlet based in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, that reported the new speed limit for Ukraine's military.

Same story, different eyes

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