Elon Musk stated that his company SpaceX deliberately restricted Ukraine's use of its Starlink internet service, accusing Ukrainian forces of violating terms of service by employing it for offensive military operations. The announcement came as Ukrainian officials reported that connectivity issues, which had reportedly hampered defensive operations for over a week, appeared to have been resolved.

Musk's comments clarify earlier reports of disruptions to the satellite internet service, which has been crucial for Ukrainian military communications since Russia's full-scale invasion. The service allows military units to coordinate, especially in remote battlefield areas, and enables drone operators to view targets in real-time.

"Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be," Musk wrote on the social media platform X. He elaborated that Ukraine's military had violated the terms of service and that this "loophole was closed last week." Musk also reiterated that Starshield, a separate, more secure system also supplied by SpaceX, is controlled by the U.S. government and its usage is up to Washington.

The implications of this restriction are significant, potentially impacting Ukraine's ability to conduct operations deep within Russian territory. While Starlink is intended for civilian and defensive use, its application in offensive actions has been a point of contention, with Musk asserting that such use makes it "fair game to be struck back."

Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov described Musk's latest claim as "very strange." He stated on Telegram that drones operating via Starlink in Ukraine have a speed restriction of 70-90 km/h (43-56 mph) and are unable to function over Russian territory. "Therefore, we physically cannot use commercial Starlink for deep strikes and medium-range strikes," Beskrestnov added, questioning Musk's awareness of these inherent limitations.

Earlier on Saturday, Ukraine's Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara reported that the military was experiencing a stable connection, with drones now capable of speeds exceeding 400 km/h. This contrasted with previous reports that the connection would cut out above 161 km/h. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed on Telegram that speeds had returned to necessary levels.

Musk's decision to restrict the service emerged during a broader dispute between Washington and Kyiv concerning Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. While Musk initially denied deliberately throttling the connection, his subsequent statement directly addressed the use of Starlink for offensive drone strikes. He emphasized that SpaceX has "done more to defend Ukraine than any private company on Earth."

Ukraine utilizes both the civilian Starlink service and the more secure Starshield system, both of which rely on SpaceX's satellite network. Starshield provides enhanced capabilities for drone operations and target acquisition. Russia is not authorized to use Starlink, and its deployment for long-range strikes into Russia has historically been hindered by network limitations, which Musk's recent actions appear to have amplified for offensive purposes.