Very Strange: Ukraine Hits Back At Elon Musk Over Starlink Drone Strike Claim

Ukraine has rejected Elon Musk’s allegation that its military violated Starlink’s terms of service by using the satellite internet network for offensive drone strikes against Russian targets. A senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy argued that longstanding restrictions on the civilian service made such operations impossible.

Serhii Beskrestnov, a defence technology adviser to Zelenskyy, criticised Musk’s claim, saying it was “very strange” that the SpaceX chief did not know about the restrictions governing Starlink’s operations in Ukraine.

In a post on Telegram, Beskrestnov said civilian Starlink terminals operating in Ukraine were subject to speed limits of 70–90 kmph and that the service did not function in Russian territory. He argued that these restrictions meant Ukraine could not use the commercial network for deep or medium-range strikes inside Russia.

Musk had accused Ukraine’s military of using Starlink, a civilian satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, to conduct offensive drone attacks intended to kill people. He said such use had never been permitted under the service’s terms and that the loophole had been closed the previous week.

The dispute follows more than a week of disruptions affecting Starlink and Starshield, the latter being a military-focused satellite communications service. Earlier in October, connectivity restrictions affected Ukrainian drones travelling at high speeds, disrupting military operations and air-defence efforts amid continued Russian aerial attacks.

On October 24, Ukrainian officials announced that the systems’ operating speeds had returned to pre-restriction levels. Ukraine’s Defence Ministry reported stable connectivity at speeds exceeding 400 kmph, restoring capabilities important for drone operations, frontline logistics and communications.

Musk acknowledged that SpaceX had throttled Starlink connectivity in Ukraine but maintained that Starshield is controlled by the US government. Questions have persisted over who authorised the restrictions, with the episode adding to tensions between Kyiv and Washington over military support and the conduct of the war.

The disagreement highlights Ukraine’s reliance on satellite communications for battlefield operations as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.