Musk ordered Starlink slowdown for Ukraine, WSJ reports
Elon Musk personally ordered a slowdown of the military version of Starlink relied upon by Ukraine, according to The Wall Street Journal, causing panic in Kyiv and confusion within the Trump administration. The decision, made last week, limited connection speeds for Ukrainian equipment, rendering some offensive and interceptor drones virtually useless. Musk and Trump discussed the move by phone, though officials disagree on whether the order was coordinated or unilateral, with some saying Trump gave no such directive. Ukrainian sources say the slowdown allowed Russian missiles to bypass air defenses. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated on October 20 that US policy toward Ukraine remains unchanged, while President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed Starlink restoration with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.