Musk restricts Ukraine's Starlink speeds, WSJ reports

The Wall Street Journal reports Elon Musk personally ordered restrictions on SpaceX satellite services for Ukraine, limiting connection speeds for Ukrainian devices. The move rendered some Ukrainian attack drones and interceptor aircraft practically unusable. The restrictions affect Starshield and Starlink systems, with unclear involvement from President Donald Trump. US officials dispute whether Trump ordered the measure, though Musk reportedly communicated with administration officials beforehand. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied prior knowledge of the slowdown. The limitations triggered criticism from US lawmakers and former officials, with calls for congressional investigation. Ukraine relies on satellite communication for battlefield coordination and detecting Russian drone attacks, and the speed cap of approximately 160 km/h prevented interception of jet-powered drones.