Musk says US authorities set Starshield restrictions

Elon Musk said on October 14 that the US military and president determine restrictions on the Starshield satellite system. His comments responded to Ukrainian appeals following communications disruptions.

Musk said Starshield was owned and controlled by the US government. He therefore attributed decisions about speed limits and usage restrictions to US authorities.

Commercial Starlink, by contrast, belongs to SpaceX and is operated by the company, Musk said. He maintained that the service was intended for civilian and defensive purposes and should not be used in offensive military operations.

The statement responded to a post by Mykhailo Fedorov on X. Fedorov reported a partial restoration of Starlink connectivity and called for Starshield restrictions to be lifted entirely. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had also acknowledged difficulties with satellite communications.