WSJ: Musk ordered Starshield speed limit on Ukraine; Hegseth and Rubio deny US role
In short
The Wall Street Journal reported on 20 October that SpaceX chief Elon Musk ordered a speed limit on the Starshield military satellite internet used by Ukrainian forces, leaving some attack and interceptor drones effectively useless. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US government restricted nothing, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said no one in the administration requested a change. Accounts differ on whether Musk acted alone or after talks with President Donald Trump.
Read the full story 2 min read
The Wall Street Journal reported on 20 October, citing US government officials and people familiar with the matter, that SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk ordered a speed limit on Starshield, the military version of the Starlink satellite internet service used by Ukrainian forces. According to the report, the cap left some Ukrainian attack and interceptor drones effectively useless. Chosun Ilbo, citing the WSJ, said the order was given on 14 October, and Kyunghyang Shinmun said the Ukrainian military noticed connection problems that day. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 14 ]
The WSJ linked the move to anger from Trump and Musk over Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian diesel refineries. Hankook Ilbo said Trump had blamed the attacks for high fuel prices ahead of next month's midterm elections. Chosun Ilbo said Trump said publicly on 10 October that Ukraine should stop the attacks, and that Musk wrote on that video that Zelensky had gone too far. [ 6 , 7 , 10 , 14 ]
Accounts differ on whether Trump was involved. Two sources told the WSJ that Trump, while campaigning, spoke by phone with Musk right after the slowdown became public, and one of them said the two had discussed it before the cap was imposed. Some US officials said Musk acted unilaterally and Trump gave no specific order for retaliation against Ukraine. Newsis said another person familiar with the matter said Musk spoke with several senior administration officials, including Trump, before applying the cap. [ 6 , 7 , 10 , 14 ]
Musk wrote on X that all restrictions on speed or use are decided by the US military and ultimately by the US president. Trump said on 16 October that it was not him and probably not Musk either, and on 19 October said he did not know who was responsible but wanted to find out. Speaking at a defense firm in Wisconsin on 20 October, Hegseth said the US had not restricted anything and had issued no directive. He said Starlink has the option to decide under its terms of service and that nothing had changed from the US side. AP noted that he did not say which terms he meant. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 10 ]
On 21 October Rubio, speaking to reporters on his way to India, said neither the US president nor anyone in the government had requested a system change. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told NBC on 18 October that he believed the US government gave a restriction order that SpaceX implemented technically. Newsis, citing the WSJ, said a White House informal inquiry took place after Zelensky's public complaint, and Chosun Ilbo said SpaceX had not commented. [ 2 , 7 , 10 , 15 , 16 ]
Dong-A Ilbo, citing AP, said Starshield was set to limit communications above about 160 km/h. It said some services had been restored but the speed limit continued, and that Ukraine was asking for it to be lifted. Hankook Ilbo, citing Politico, said Democrats, if they win the House in the midterms, are expected to include the Starshield allegations in an investigation of Musk. [ 6 , 9 ]
Why it matters
Outlets said the episode raised tension between the US and Ukraine and showed the influence Musk holds over Ukrainian military communications. Korean business outlets also reported that Democrats plan to investigate Musk if they win the House in next month's midterm elections.
Key facts
- The Wall Street Journal reported on 20 October, citing US officials and people familiar with the matter, that Musk ordered a speed limit on Starshield, the military version of SpaceX's Starlink, used by Ukrainian forces. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 13 , 14 ]
- According to the WSJ, the cap left some Ukrainian attack and interceptor drones effectively useless; the Ukrainian military first noticed connection problems on 14 October. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 14 ]
- The WSJ linked the move to anger from Trump and Musk over Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian diesel refineries. [ 6 , 7 , 14 ]
- Hegseth said on 20 October that the US had not restricted anything and had issued no directive, adding that Starlink has the option to decide under its terms of service. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Rubio said on 21 October that neither the US president nor anyone in the government had requested a system change. [ 15 , 16 ]
- Musk wrote on X that all restrictions on speed or use are decided by the US military and ultimately by the US president. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 14 ]
- Trump said on 16 October that it was not him and probably not Musk either, and on 19 October that he wanted to find out who was responsible. [ 7 , 10 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The WSJ reported that Musk directed the Starshield speed limit, as relayed by multiple Korean outlets. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 13 , 14 ]
- Hegseth denied that the US government restricted Starshield or issued any directive. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Rubio said that neither the president nor anyone in the administration requested a change to the system. [ 15 , 16 ]
- Musk said on X that restrictions are decided by the US military and ultimately the president. [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 14 ]
- An informal inquiry took place inside the White House after Zelensky's public complaint. [ 7 , 14 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Musk acted on his own or after talks with Trump and senior officials. Two sources told the WSJ that Trump and Musk spoke by phone right after the slowdown became public, and one said they had discussed it beforehand, while some US officials said Musk acted unilaterally and Trump gave no specific order for retaliation.
- Who is responsible for the restriction. Musk pointed to the US military and president, Trump and Hegseth denied involvement, and Hegseth did not say which terms of service he meant.
- The exact speed at which connections drop. AP, as cited by Dong-A Ilbo, said Starshield was set to limit communications above about 160 km/h, while analyst Michael Kofman said links now break below 130 km/h.
- SpaceX's position. Chosun Ilbo said SpaceX had not commented on the WSJ report.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap reports Hegseth's denial of 20 October that the US restricted Starshield. [ 2 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports the WSJ account that Musk ordered the access restriction, and Hegseth's denial. [ 4 ]
- Newsis reports the WSJ account that Musk ordered the speed limit, with conflicting accounts of talks with Trump. [ 7 ]
- On 22 October Yonhap reports Rubio's statement of 21 October that no one in the administration requested a change. [ 15 ]