Pentagon and Musk Restrict Ukraine's Starshield Satellite Communications

Ukraine experienced a partial blockage of its Starshield military satellite communications system for over 24 hours, severely hampering drone operations and intelligence capabilities before service was restored. SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, introduced speed and usage restrictions on the system used by Ukrainian armed forces, causing 10-20 second communication losses that disrupted drone missions and forced cancellations. Musk initially stated the U.S. government controls Starshield, with restrictions decided by American military officials and ultimately the president. Analysts suggest the blackout likely fits into ongoing Trump-Putin-Zelensky negotiations, as Trump pressures Kyiv toward a ceasefire favorable to Moscow. Musk also posted on X that Zelensky should leave, while Republican congressman Don Bacon criticized the move as aiding Russia.