Rubio denies claims of deliberate Starlink slowdown

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has rejected claims that Washington deliberately slowed Starlink satellite internet service used by Ukraine for military communications and drone operations, stating no orders were given to restrict data speeds. Rubio told journalists on Saturday that the causes of the technical problems remain unclear, though access has been restored. He also said Ukraine lacks access to the Starshield system used by US armed forces, and Washington denied Kyiv's request for its use in operations on Russian territory. Ukrainian officials reported Starshield slowdowns beginning October 14, disrupting drone systems and logistics, with service resuming the next day. Reports differ on who initiated restrictions, with The Telegraph citing Elon Musk and Reuters citing White House orders, though both Trump and Musk deny involvement.