Key Points

• President Trump denied that the White House had ordered restrictions on SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet services in Ukraine this week.
• Ukrainian officials complained on Tuesday and Wednesday that SpaceX had limited internet connectivity via Starshield without advance notice.
• Musk said any restrictions on Starlink or Starshield in Ukraine would have come from decisions by the president or White House.

President Donald Trump on Friday refuted claims that the White House had mandated restrictions on SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet services, which have been crucial for Ukraine's armed forces. This development follows complaints from Ukrainian officials earlier this week, who stated that SpaceX had curtailed the use of Starshield, a specialized military version of Starlink, without prior notification. These alleged restrictions have reportedly hampered some military operations and the ability to protect civilians amidst escalating Russian attacks.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, had previously suggested that any limitations on Starlink or Starshield in Ukraine originated from U.S. government directives, specifically mentioning the President or the White House. He stated on X, "Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government," implying that the authority for such restrictions lay with American leadership.

When questioned by reporters in Washington, D.C., on Friday about the responsibility for the paused access for the Ukrainian military, Trump responded, "Well, I don't know if it was anybody because it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon. And from what I understand, it's the same as it's always been."

Ukrainian forces have become heavily reliant on Starlink and Starshield for critical functions, including data collection by autonomous drones and general communications. The reported restrictions specifically affected connectivity for drones or vehicles operating at speeds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour.

Serhii Beskrestnov, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, voiced his concerns on Telegram, writing, "Our armed forces did not receive a warning about these restrictions, and this led to the failure of a number of missions."

Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland's deputy prime minister and a customer of Starlink services for Ukraine, publicly criticized Musk on X. He questioned, "Hey, @elonmusk, big man, are you playing politics with your products again? As your European customers, we are watching you."

Musk is known to advise the Pentagon on technology matters through his involvement in the recent Project Meridian initiative.

Reports from The Telegraph on Friday suggested that Musk had approached Donald Trump with the concept of slowing down Starlink's deployment in Ukraine, implying a joint role in the imposition of these restrictions. Meanwhile, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing two U.S. officials, that the directive to restrict Starlink in Ukraine originated from the White House, though the specific individual responsible for the order was not identified.

This situation follows Musk's critical post on X on Oct. 10, where he commented, "Zelensky has gone too far," after Trump had called for Ukraine to cease attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Musk and SpaceX did not provide immediate comments on Friday when approached for their reactions.

SpaceX shares have experienced a decline of approximately 11% this week. The company is slated to release its quarterly financial results on Tuesday.