Elon Musk has publicly distanced himself from the satellite restrictions disrupting Ukraine's military operations, saying any curbs on the Starshield system are decided by the U.S. military and "ultimately POTUS" — pointing the finger at President Donald Trump.
Musk's "Ultimately POTUS" Post
Writing on X on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Musk drew a sharp line between two SpaceX systems: "Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," he wrote, referring to President Trump.
He was responding to former Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who said Starlink connectivity at speeds of up to 160 km/h was being restored but that "removing Starshield's speed limit entirely is now critical for Ukraine's defense." Musk added that civilian Starlink "is limited to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action, as doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial company."
His post left key questions unanswered — including who authorized the restrictions and whether SpaceX acted on instructions from the Pentagon or the White House. SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Ukraine Says Its Defenses Are Suffering
Ukrainian officials say the satellite restrictions have disrupted drone operations as Russia continues attacking the country's energy infrastructure. Kyiv has also reported difficulties receiving advance warnings of Russian missile attacks — the capital was hit by ballistic missiles two nights in a row before air-raid sirens could sound, though it remains unclear whether that is connected to the satellite curbs.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told British broadcaster Piers Morgan he felt "betrayed" and appealed directly to Musk: "I hope that it's a mistake, maybe huge technical problem... we are asking to do it, to switch [it] on." A senior official in Kyiv also confirmed the U.S. had in recent days threatened to stop providing intelligence about Russian missile launches — which Trump denied on Tuesday.
The Diesel Deal Backdrop
The satellite row comes amid growing tension between Washington and Kyiv over Trump's agreement with Vladimir Putin to resume buying Russian diesel — a deal critics have called a betrayal of Ukraine. Trump, facing midterm elections next month with fuel prices a major issue, has blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for squeezing supplies and raising prices at the pump.
Opposition Democrats in Congress denounced the reported satellite restrictions. "Trump's making a choice — and it directly aids Putin's slaughter of Ukrainian civilians," House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats said in a post on X, calling the restrictions "unconscionable" while Ukraine faces an onslaught of Russian drones and missiles.
The White House declined to answer questions on the Starlink matter, saying in a statement that "the President and his team remain committed to continuing to play a constructive role in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine."
With Ukraine's drone operations and missile warnings both under strain, Musk's attempt to shift responsibility to Trump has turned a technical dispute into a political one — and put the spotlight squarely on the White House.
Watch: NewsNation's "The Daily Take" on whether Musk or Trump is behind Ukraine's Starshield slowdown.
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Volatile Reaction (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0
Sources
- The Straits Times: Musk suggests US govt behind any slowdown in Ukraine's Starshield system
- CNA: Elon Musk says US government behind Starshield disruptions in Ukraine
- The National: Elon Musk shifts responsibility to Trump over satellite restrictions affecting Ukraine
- The Wall Street Journal: Starlink Suspicions and a Frantic Warning: Inside Trump's Turn on Zelensky