World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Musk accuses Ukraine of using Starlink for offensive drone strikes
Elon Musk accused Ukraine of using Starlink for offensive drone strikes, saying this broke the service’s terms.
Starlink is a satellite communications system run by Musk’s company, SpaceX, and Ukraine relies on it alongside the military-grade Starshield system.
Musk said Starlink is a civilian system, not a way to kill, and that the alleged loophole had been fixed the previous week.
He also said Starlink remained crucial to Ukraine’s defence and warned that switching it off would cause the front line to collapse.
Ukraine had reported speed limits that disconnected military devices, including drones, travelling faster than 160 km/h.
Ukraine’s defence minister said the connection was stable again, with speeds above 400 km/h, supporting drones, logistics and communications.
Elon Musk accused Ukraine of violating Starlink’s terms by using the service for offensive drone strikes.
He said Starlink is a civilian system and warned that violations could end the service.
Musk said the vulnerability had been fixed the previous week.
Ukraine’s defense minister said Starlink’s connection was stable again, with speeds above 400 km/h.
Ukraine had reported for several days that Starlink terminals were being limited above 160 km/h.
- Who
- Elon Musk accused the Ukrainian military of using Starlink for offensive drone strikes.
- What
- Musk said Ukraine had violated Starlink’s terms of use. He said the vulnerability had been fixed.
- When
- Musk made the accusation on Saturday, October 24.
- Where
- The accusation was made on X. The alleged use was in Ukraine.
- Why
- Musk said Starlink is a civilian system, not a means of killing, and that its terms prohibit such use.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Donald Trump said Elon Musk had relaunched the Starlink network for Ukraine.
Musk accused Ukraine of using Starlink for offensive drone strikes.
Ukraine’s defence minister said the Starlink connection was stable again, with speeds above 400 km/h.
- Allegation
- Ukraine’s military used Starlink for offensive drone strikes, according to Musk
- Correction
- Musk said the vulnerability had been fixed the previous week
- Reported speed limit
- Ukraine said terminals were limited above 160 km/h
- Restored speed
- Ukraine’s defence minister said Starlink/Starshield speeds were above 400 km/h
- Warning
- Musk said violations of Starlink’s terms could result in the service ending
3 sources
What people are saying
Starlink’s terms of use have remained consistent: it is a civilian system, and not a means of killing. Any violation of these terms will result in the end of the service
the Ukrainian army [...] used it for offensive drone strikes intended to kill people
stable
This result is above all important for our front, for our soldiers, for the operation of drones, for logistics and for communications
Posts on X
Correct. Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be. Starshield, a different system, is controlled by the US government. What they decide to do is up to them. Ukraine military violated