Washington: SpaceX chief Elon Musk has accused Ukraine's military of violating Starlink's terms of service by using the satellite internet system for offensive drone strikes, hours after Ukrainian officials said Starlink and its military version, Starshield, had returned to full functionality following more than a week of restrictions.
In a post on X on Saturday, Musk said the Ukrainian military had used Starlink for offensive drone strikes intended to kill people, adding that the loophole had been closed the previous week.
“Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week,” he wrote. There was no immediate public comment from Ukrainian officials in response to the accusation.
Correct. Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be. Starshield, a different system, is controlled by the US government. What they decide to do is up to them. Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week.Starlink remains critical to the defense of Ukraine, as it is the only system that cannot be jammed or blown up, at least for now. Were Starlink to be turned off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately. This is NOT a threat, it is simply a statement of fact.Starlink was also crucial to preventing Russia from overrunning Ukraine in the early days of the war, as all other means of communication were destroyed or jammed by Russia. SpaceX has done more to defend Ukraine than any private company on Earth BY FAR. That said, I have nothing but UTTER CONTEMPT for the virtue-signaling evil warmongers who push for endless slaughter and offer no realistic solution to the conflict. May you burn in hell. End of story.
Musk said the use of Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes had never been permitted. He distinguished it from Starshield, a separate system controlled by the US government.
“Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it. Starshield, a different system, is controlled by the US government. What they decide to do is up to them,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the operational speeds of the Starlink and Starshield satellite communication networks had returned to pre-restriction levels.
Ukrainian officials said the systems were fully functional again after more than a week of limitations that disrupted military operations and heightened tensions with the United States.
The restrictions had capped operating speeds at 160 kph, hampering Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian attack drones and forcing the cancellation of some military operations, Ukrainian officials said.
The problems emerged after US President Donald Trump announced a deal to buy Russian diesel while pressing Kyiv to stop striking Russian oil refineries.
Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of satellite communications in supporting Ukraine's defence capabilities along the front lines and countering aerial attacks.
Despite his accusations over its use for offensive operations, Musk said Starlink remained essential to Ukraine's defence against Russia.
“Starlink remains critical to the defense of Ukraine, as it is the only system that cannot be jammed or blown up, at least for now. Were Starlink to be turned off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately. This is NOT a threat, it is simply a statement of fact,” he wrote.
Musk added that Starlink had been crucial in preventing Russia from overrunning Ukraine during the early stages of the war, when other communication systems had been destroyed or jammed by Russian forces.
“SpaceX has done more to defend Ukraine than any private company on Earth by far,” he said.
He also criticised those advocating continued fighting without offering what he considered a realistic solution to the conflict.
“That said, I have nothing but utter contempt for the virtue-signaling evil warmongers who push for endless slaughter and offer no realistic solution to the conflict. May you burn in hell,” Musk wrote.
On Friday, Musk also claimed that financial aid sent to Ukraine to fight Russia was being laundered back into the United States through what he described as “multiple laundry” channels. He alleged that the money was being used to fund political campaigns for some politicians.
Musk's latest comments on Starlink came as Ukraine reported the restoration of satellite communication services that it considers critical to military operations and defence along the front lines.
(With inputs from ANI and Reuters)