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Elon Musk suggests US government may be behind Starlink speed restrictions affecting Ukrainian drones
Overview
Elon Musk has indicated that the US government may be responsible for speed restrictions placed on Ukraine's use of the Starshield network, which disrupted battlefield drone missions. Musk stated that Starshield is controlled by the US military and the US President, and noted that Starlink is intended for civilian or defensive use rather than offensive military action. Ukrainian officials urged the removal of the limits following strikes by Russia that left hundreds of thousands without power.
Key points
- Elon Musk suggested the US government and military ultimately decide on speed or usage limits for the Starshield system.
- Ukraine reported unexpected speed limits of 100mph on Tuesday night, which disrupted drone missions and caused a loss of connectivity for weapons exceeding that speed.
- A Ukrainian presidential adviser stated the restrictions were related to political tensions between Kyiv and Washington.
- Musk emphasized that Starlink is meant for civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military actions.
- Speed limits were partially restored by Wednesday evening, according to Ukrainian officials who called for the limits to be entirely removed.