# Report: Musk ordered Starlink slowdown in Ukraine, then blamed it on Trump

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/report-musk-ordered-starlink-slowdown-in-ukraine-then-blamed-it-on-trump/
- Published: 2026-10-21T18:35:38+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-21T21:26:54+00:00
- Original publisher: Ars Technica
- Original article: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/10/report-says-musk-not-trump-ordered-starlink-throttling-that-blindsided-ukraine/
- Topics: Business, Celebrity, Entertainment, Europe, Markets, World

## Key points

- A report says Musk made the final call on Ukraine’s satellite speed cap.
- The 160 kph limit reportedly disrupted Ukrainian drone operations.
- Musk and Trump denied ordering the restrictions.

## Summary

A Wall Street Journal report says Elon Musk made the final decision to impose a speed cap on a military satellite service used by Ukraine, despite Musk’s earlier claim that the US government controlled such limits. The restriction reportedly disrupted Ukrainian drone operations and caused alarm in Kyiv, while prompting confusion over whether Musk or the Trump administration was responsible.

The report says Musk spoke with President Donald Trump and other senior officials before imposing the cap, though some US officials said he acted on his own. The limit disconnected terminals moving faster than 160 kph (100 mph), forcing affected drones to fly more slowly and making them easier to target or evade. Musk and Trump both denied ordering the restrictions, and the report says SpaceX and White House representatives later coordinated their messaging.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.