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U.S. President Donald Trump has denied ordering restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Starshield, SpaceX’s military-grade satellite communications system, and said he does not believe Elon Musk was responsible for the decision either.
Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the White House. Asked whether he or Musk had decided to restrict the system’s use by Ukraine, Trump said he was not aware of who had made the decision.
“Well, I don’t know if it was anybody, but it wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon. And from what I understand, it’s the same as it’s always been,” Trump said.
Restrictions disrupt Ukrainian drone operations
Ukrainian forces recently reported problems with Starshield terminals, which lost connectivity when mounted on drones moving at speeds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour. The restrictions disrupted military missions, including operations involving interceptor drones designed to shoot down Russian attack drones.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to Musk to lift the restrictions, warning that the limitations could put civilian lives at risk.
Musk responded that Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government, meaning decisions on speed and usage limits rest with the U.S. military and, ultimately, the president.
Reports point to a White House decision
A Reuters report published on October 15, citing two U.S. officials and a Western official familiar with the matter, said the order to restrict Starshield originated inside the White House. The sources did not identify who issued it.
A senior U.S. official told Reuters that Trump had not requested the restriction. The White House did not clarify whether another administration official had ordered the change.
The restrictions come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Kyiv over Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries and broader disagreements over U.S. policy toward the war.
