- Elon Musk allegedly ordered Starlink slowdown for Ukraine's military.
- Report claims slowdown crippled Ukraine's war efforts against Russia.
- US denies involvement, attributes changes to SpaceX contractual terms.
As Ukraine struggles in its war with Russia due to connectivity issues with its essential military Starlink network, a fresh report suggests that SpaceX founder Elon Musk had directed an intentional slowdown. The slowdown has sparked widespread alarm in Ukraine administration.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, the decision sparked widespread alarm within the Zelenskyy administration and has left the Trump administration bewildered.
The fresh reports came hours after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth denied any order from Washington for a reduction or restriction of the military-grade Starshield satellite network, which Ukraine relies heavily on in its missile and other aerial offensive.
Hegseth made the assertion while responding to questions about whether the service has been scaled back on the battlefield.
"We haven't pulled anything back," Hegseth said. "Nothing's changed from our view. We haven't made any directives or anything like that. And we wish the Ukrainians obviously success."
Hegseth further indicated that the responsibility for any such reduction and restriction that leads to operational challenges will lie on Musk's company's contractual terms.
"There are terms of service that ultimately need to be complied with," Hegseth added, noting that "that's where Starlink has the option to make those decisions." Hegseth said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed a similar clarification, refuting Washington's involvement in the reported disruption of Starlink connectivity in Ukraine amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Rubio said, "Starshield is a defence and military product; that is something that the United States military uses. It is not available to Ukraine, and it is under discussion how they want to use it. I don’t know if Zelenskyy knows what he is talking about. In the United States, nobody ordered that Starlink's speed be slowed down. In my understanding, it has been restored. That is Starlink; they were using Starlink. Starshield is in contract with the US military, has nothing to do with Ukraine."
Rubio said, "Starshield is a defence and military product; that is something that the United States military uses. It is not available to Ukraine, and it is under discussion how they want to use it. I don’t know if Zelenskyy knows what he is talking about. In the United States, nobody ordered that Starlink's speed be slowed down. In my understanding, it has been restored. That is Starlink; they were using Starlink. Starshield is in contract with the US military, has nothing to do with Ukraine."
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