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Musk and Trump discussed the decision over the phone after it became public last week. The two had also discussed the matter before the slowdown.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk. File pic/AP
Elon Musk personally ordered the slowdown of Starshield, SpaceX’s military-grade satellite communications system used by Ukraine, disrupting the country’s drone operations against Russia, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing US officials and people familiar with the matter.
The restrictions affected Ukraine’s attack and air defence drone missions, causing concern in Kyiv and confusion within the administration of US President Donald Trump, according to the report.
Musk and Trump discussed the decision over the phone after it became public last week. The two had also discussed the matter before the slowdown, one source told the newspaper.
Trump, Musk Discussed Starlink Restrictions
Musk had earlier said that any changes to Starshield’s speed limits were ultimately a decision for the US government. Starshield, developed by Musk’s SpaceX, is managed and controlled by the US government.
Trump, however, said on Friday that he did not believe either he or Musk was responsible for Ukraine losing access in a way that affected its military operations.
The development comes amid tensions between Washington and Kyiv over Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries. Trump has criticised the attacks and urged Ukraine to stop targeting Russian energy infrastructure.
He has also pushed for a settlement to the war and called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be replaced.
Restrictions Hampered Military Operations
On Monday, Zelenskyy had said that Ukrainian forces had reported problems with Starshield equipment, which was stopping functioning at speeds of 130-160 kilometres per hour in some areas of the front.
He said the restrictions were slowing frontline logistics and limiting the use of several types of drones, including mid-range strike drones and interceptors used against Russian attack drones.
Ukraine has also said that restrictions on the system and a lack of intelligence had affected its ability to warn civilians about incoming missile and drone attacks.
Kyiv relies on Starshield for battlefield communications and military drone operations. It also uses the civilian Starlink network, though Ukraine says that system is not used for military purposes.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had denied that Washington had suspended intelligence-sharing with Ukraine, amid growing tensions over the war.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Ask News18The restrictions ordered by Elon Musk stopped the Starshield system from functioning properly at speeds of 130-160 kilometers per hour, which slowed frontline logistics and disrupted attack and air defense drone missions. This also affected Ukraine’s ability to warn civilians about incoming missile and drone attacks.
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