WSJ: Musk ordered Starshield restriction for Ukraine; Trump says he was not involved

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials and others familiar with the matter, that SpaceX head Elon Musk ordered the work of Starshield, the military version of Starlink, restricted for Ukraine. RBC wrote that Musk gave the order personally last week. According to the WSJ's sources, the decision caused panic in Kyiv and confusion in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. [ 2 , 3 ]

Ukrainian military said on 14 October that they faced limits on Starlink terminals, which disrupted some missions, according to Meduza. Kommersant wrote that the speed restriction began that day and, according to the WSJ, made some Ukrainian strike drones and interceptor drones almost useless. Interfax said the WSJ reported that the limits hindered Ukrainian drones in defensive and offensive operations. [ 3 , 5 , 6 ]

The outlets differ on Trump's role. Vedomosti wrote that Musk made the decision without informing Trump. Meduza, Kommersant and Interfax wrote that, according to two WSJ sources, Musk and Trump discussed the decision by telephone after the restriction became public, while another source said they had discussed it before the decision. Meduza added that some officials say Musk acted alone and Trump gave no specific order, but a source familiar with the situation said Musk spoke to several senior administration officials, including Trump, before the limits. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]

On 21 October Trump, asked about media reports that Musk had restricted Starlink for Ukraine, told journalists at the White House: "I don't know who did this. I was not involved," RIA Novosti reported. Meduza wrote that Trump had already said two days after the 14 October limits that he had not ordered them and did not know who had. It added that The Telegraph, citing four sources, reported that Musk proposed the speed limit to Trump and Trump agreed. [ 3 , 7 , 8 ]

Kommersant wrote that Musk said on X that any restrictions are determined by the military and the U.S. president, and that Reuters reported last week, citing sources, that the order came from the White House. Vedomosti wrote that on 18 October Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the White House of restricting Starlink but said he did not know who in the U.S. government decided it. On 20 October he said intelligence sharing with the United States had resumed. [ 4 , 5 ]

The outlets linked the episode to Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries. TASS wrote that Musk and Trump had in recent weeks expressed displeasure over them. Interfax, citing the WSJ, wrote that Trump had announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on diesel supplies and blamed Ukraine for higher diesel prices. Interfax added that Democratic Representative Adam Smith criticised Musk and Trump on CNN, and Senator Adam Schiff called for a Senate investigation and for Musk to testify under oath. [ 1 , 4 , 6 ]