US President Donald Trump has denied issuing directives to restrict Ukraine’s access to the Starshield satellite network operated by SpaceX, following reports from military officials concerning disruptions to drone operations.
Speaking on October 16, Trump disclaimed any role in the limitations amid mounting uncertainty regarding who authorized the modifications. The controversy emerged after reports indicated that a speed restriction interfered with connections utilized by drones in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Trump Rejects Claims White House Restricted Starshield
“It wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon,” Trump stated to reporters on Friday prior to his departure from the White House for Georgia. He noted that he had reviewed the matter that morning and believed service was functioning as it had previously, while also casting doubt on whether the network had experienced any outage.
His remarks ran counter to accounts from officials referenced in a Reuters report published on October 15. Two American officials and one Western official indicated that the directive to throttle Starshield originated within the White House and was communicated to Pentagon leadership, though they did not specify who gave the authorization. In a separate statement, a senior US official denied that Trump had given the order.
Elon Musk highlighted government oversight of Starshield. The SpaceX chief executive wrote on X that the system is owned and managed by the United States government, asserting that limits on its utilization are dictated by the military and the president. Starshield is dedicated to national security clients, whereas Starlink offers wider satellite internet connectivity.
Ukraine Reports Disruptions to Drones and Battlefield Communications
Personnel within the Ukrainian military stated that specific satellite terminals experienced a loss of connection when mounted on drones or vehicles traveling in excess of 100 mph (160 km/h). This speed cap impacted drone navigation and reconnaissance activities, which include intercepting Russian strikes. Ukrainian representatives noted that forces were given no prior notice of the alterations.
Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, indicated that several operations were unsuccessful. Connectivity on certain terminals was subsequently restored, though the velocity limitation persisted as of Friday. According to Beskrestnov, Ukraine was engaged in discussions regarding the cap with both the US administration and SpaceX.
Zelensky stated that standard service had not been completely restored. Russian bombardments throughout the week resulted in civilian fatalities and harmed energy infrastructure, causing hundreds of thousands of people to lose power. Ukrainian authorities cautioned that the limitations diminished their capacity to counter incoming assaults.
US Senators Seek Investigation as Ukraine Requests Support
A bipartisan group of nine US senators called for an inquiry by the Pentagon inspector general into the communications failure. Their correspondence expressed apprehension regarding Ukraine’s capacity to defend against missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, alongside challenges encountered by US personnel during aerial bombardments.
The lawmakers requested that investigators ascertain whether American officials or contractors directed, sanctioned, or possessed awareness of the restrictions. They also asked for a progress report and an initial briefing scheduled for November 1. The communication did not attribute blame for the slowdown.
This friction coincides with ongoing debates concerning Ukrainian strikes targeting Russian oil refineries and a US deal involving Russian diesel. Trump has called upon Kyiv to suspend the refinery attacks, whereas Zelensky has declined to cease them unless Moscow halts its offensives against Ukrainian energy systems.
During a summit in Brussels on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron committed ongoing European backing for Ukraine. Zelensky informed European Union leaders that Ukraine will require a minimum of EUR 70 billion from the organization for defense requirements and weaponry in the coming year as the war advances into another winter season.
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