Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his sense of betrayal over the disruption of the Starlink satellite internet service, while American billionaire Elon Musk held the U.S. government responsible for the restrictions imposed on the service’s use in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said that disrupting Starlink was a grave mistake that could lead to significant losses, without providing further details about the scope or duration of the disruption.
Meanwhile, Musk commented on the reduction in Starlink’s speed in Ukraine, confirming that the U.S. government was responsible for imposing restrictions on its use.
In a subsequent development, a U.S. official denied that President Donald Trump’s administration had any connection to the restrictions imposed on Starlink. The denial came in response to Musk’s statements holding Washington responsible for the measures.
The denial comes amid a dispute over which party is responsible for the restrictions, following Zelenskyy’s expression of dissatisfaction with the disruption of a service that represents an important means of communication in his country.
Starlink, operated by Musk-owned SpaceX, is particularly important in Ukraine, as it relies on satellites to provide internet access in areas where terrestrial communications networks have been damaged.
Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war in February 2022, the service has become one of the communication tools used across the country, particularly in areas affected by military operations. It has also helped support civilian and military communications, making any restrictions on its operation or coverage a sensitive issue for Kyiv.
The nature and scope of the restrictions remain unclear. It is also unknown whether the speed reduction affected all users in Ukraine or was limited to specific areas, as technical details about when the measures were implemented and their consequences remain unavailable.
It is likewise unclear whether the disruption referenced by Zelenskyy and the speed reduction mentioned by Musk were part of the same measure. This leaves the nature of the restrictions and the extent of their impact in need of further clarification, given the importance of satellite communications to Ukraine as the war with Russia continues.
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Author: Counselor Faisal Al-Mutairi.
Publication Date: October 15, 2026.
Updated: October 2026.
