Elon Musk accused Ukraine of violating Starlink terms of service by using the civilian commercial satellite system for offensive drone strikes. The accusation followed SpaceX imposing restrictions on Starlink use on drones flying above certain speeds. Ukrainian officials, including defense advisor Serhii Beskrestnov, denied the claims, stating that Starlink terminals were already limited to 70-90 km/h and do not function over Russian territory, making such use 'physically impossible.' President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded that restrictions on Starlink and Starshield have been lifted, restoring speeds above 400 km/h.
The controversy began nearly two weeks ago when Musk claimed Ukraine used Starlink for lethal operations. Zelenskyy previously posted about using Starlink for mid-range strikes against enemy targets in occupied territories. The Starlink and Starshield names are often used interchangeably by officials.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry confirmed Starshield was working above 400 km/h again by Oct. 24. Zelenskyy stated operations were restored overnight, emphasizing the importance for frontline logistics and defending against jet-powered drones.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing