According to separate reports from The Wall Street Journal and CBS News, Elon Musk allegedly ordered the restriction of satellite operations, which disrupted the functioning of Ukrainian military drones. Publicly, Musk pointed to the US government as the body that issues any such restrictions.
The Journal's investigation, published on Tuesday as an Instagram post, dates the introduction of these restrictions to October 14. Later, CBS reported that sources familiar with the decision independently linked it to Musk following conversations with Trump administration officials.
Ukraine uses SpaceX satellite connections to communicate with troops and control drones, including interceptors aimed at Russian attacks. Loss of connection can prevent these drones from carrying out their missions.
CBS identifies the affected military service as Starshield, which uses technology similar to the civilian Starlink network and is licensed by the US government. However, much of the public discussion referred to the more well-known name Starlink.
The speed restriction concerns how fast the terminal can move while maintaining a connection. For a drone operator, this determines whether the equipment remains usable during flight.
Military analyst Michael Kaufman from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace told The Journal that Ukrainian strike and interceptor drones faced a limit of 160 km/h, with actual connection loss occurring below 130 km/h. CBS separately reported that Ukrainian units lost connection at speeds as low as 90 km/h.
Musk publicly explains his position by shifting responsibility to other parties. He wrote on X that 'Any speed or usage restrictions are decided by the US Army and ultimately the President.' Starshield systems belong to and are controlled by the US government, and any speed or usage restrictions are determined by the US Army and the President.
Starlink is a commercial service owned and operated by SpaceX. The use of Starlink is limited to civilian or defensive actions and cannot be applied to offensive military operations, as this would be inappropriate for a commercial company.
President Donald Trump presented a different version of his knowledge on the matter on Monday. When asked who ordered the restrictions, he told reporters: 'I don't know who it was, but I would like to find out.'
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegset stated on Tuesday that the Pentagon had not issued such directives, emphasizing SpaceX's ability to ensure compliance with its terms of service. He noted: 'We have not issued any directives or anything like that.'
Reuters added another layer of complexity. While attributing the accusation against Musk to The Journal, the agency noted that its own early information linked the order to internal White House circles. This contradicts accounts from some American officials who claimed Musk acted alone.
CBS sources reported that Musk attempted to clarify Trump's position before the alleged decision. The investigation leaves unclear who exactly authorized what and how these restrictions were implemented. SpaceX did not respond to The Journal's request for comment, and CBS reported that Musk did not respond to its inquiry.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Tuesday that he discussed this issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, including the 'Starlink/Starshield situation that needs to be restored.'
Accusations continue to mount.