In a significant development, a Wall Street Journal report alleges that Elon Musk instructed SpaceX to throttle a version of its Starlink satellite internet service, critical for Ukraine’s war efforts against Russia, a move that reportedly rendered some Ukrainian drones inoperable. This controversial decision, according to sources, was discussed between Musk and former President Donald Trump soon after the change became public, prompting an informal White House investigation.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk allegedly ordered a significant slowdown of a specific Starlink service crucial for Ukraine's defense against Russia, according to a recent report by The Wall Street Journal. This move reportedly left some Ukrainian drones severely hampered, sparking concern among U.S. officials and drawing the attention of the White House.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk attends a press briefing held by President Donald Trump with AI executives following a meeting on artificial intelligence, outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Sept. 29, 2023. Finn Gomez | Getty Images
The Journal, citing U.S. officials and individuals familiar with the situation, detailed how Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, last week "capped the speeds at which Ukrainian hardware could stay connected to the satellite-based network." This action, impacting a service heavily relied upon by Ukrainian forces, particularly for drone operations, has raised questions about the role of private companies in international conflicts.
Adding another layer to the controversy, the report indicates that Musk and former President Donald Trump discussed the Starlink throttling soon after the change was made public. Both Musk and Trump have recently voiced criticisms of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Sources close to the matter claim Musk even discussed the potential speed cap with multiple senior Trump administration officials, including the president himself, prior to its implementation.
Neither the White House nor representatives for Elon Musk immediately responded to CNBC's inquiries regarding The Wall Street Journal's revelations. The report surfaced just minutes after SpaceX announced its latest quarterly earnings, though the topic was conspicuously absent from the subsequent conference call with Musk and investors.
Former President Trump, when questioned on Monday, stated he was unaware of who ordered the Starlink interruption but expressed a desire "to find out."
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's public outcry over the slowdown, arguing it compromises Ukraine's defensive capabilities against Russian aggression, has reportedly prompted an informal investigation within the White House.
Musk, in a social media post last Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter), previously stated that Starshield systems – the military-grade variant of Starlink – are "owned and controlled by the US government," asserting that any speed or usage restrictions are "decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS." This statement, however, appears to be at odds with the Journal's report regarding his direct involvement in the slowdown of the civilian-used Starlink service.
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