On October 24, 2026, Elon Musk made a statement that further complicated the situation regarding the use of Starlink for Ukrainian military operations. He claimed that Ukrainian forces had used the "civilian" Starlink to guide drones at civilian targets, leading to the blocking of this capability since last week.
Musk's Statement and Its Consequences
Musk asserted that the blocking was within his authority, as Starlink is a non-military technology overseen by SpaceX. This raised concerns as his comments contradicted information provided by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Defense Minister Oleksandr Khmara, who claimed that normal operation speeds for both Starlink and Starshield had been restored.
Physical Limitations of Starlink Usage
Advisor to the President of Ukraine, Serhiy Beskrestnov (Flash), noted that since winter 2026, all Starlink terminals in Ukraine, including temporarily occupied territories, have speed limitations of 70-90 km/h. This means that Ukraine physically cannot use commercial Starlink for long-range and medium-range strikes, which Musk referred to as "offensive strikes aimed at killing people." Beskrestnov also emphasized that Starlink does not operate over Russian territory.
- Speed limitations for Starlink terminals in Ukraine: 70-90 km/h.
- Starlink does not operate over Russian territory.
- Blocking of the ability to use Starlink for drone missions.
Response from Ukrainian Authorities
Ukrainian officials responded to Musk's statement by refuting his claims. Beskrestnov remarked on the oddity of Musk being unaware of the operational limitations of Starlink in Ukraine. Former advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Serhiy Sternenko, also confirmed that all drone missions are conducted solely through Starshield, not commercial Starlink. This highlights the importance of understanding technological limitations and their impact on military operations.