Elon Musk has ordered a slowdown of Starlink services in Ukraine, which has reportedly left some Ukrainian drones inoperable. This move was made after Musk and President Donald Trump recently criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has also flagged disruptions in US intel sharing. Musk discussed the matter with multiple Trump officials, although Trump claimed he did not know who ordered the interruption, and Zelenskyy publicly complained about the Starlink slowdown.
The WSJ reported that Musk authorized the move, while CNBC noted that Musk capped Ukrainian hardware speeds. The slowdown has significant implications for Ukraine's military capabilities, particularly its drone operations. The exact reasons behind Musk's decision are unclear, but it is known that he has been in discussions with Trump officials about the matter.
As a result of the slowdown, Ukraine's ability to conduct certain military operations may be hindered. Further clarification on the situation is needed, as the available information does not provide a complete understanding of the motivations behind Musk's decision or the full extent of its impact on Ukraine.
Evidence lens
2 cited sources are linked to this briefing.