The Starlink slowdown that blindsided Ukraine has allegedly been restored.
Blindsided by Elon Musk
The SpaceX founder authorized the move and has been discussing Ukraine with Trump, but the president has denied ordering the restrictions
The Wall Street Journal reports Musk Ordered Starlink Slowdown That Blindsided Ukraine
Elon Musk ordered the slowdown of a military-grade version of Starlink relied on by Ukraine, a decision that sparked panic in Kyiv and confusion inside the Trump administration, U.S. officials and people familiar with the matter said.
Both Musk and President Trump have expressed anger at Ukraine for attacking Russian diesel refineries in recent weeks, which the president blames for high energy prices. Last week, Musk capped the speeds at which Ukrainian hardware could stay connected to the satellite-based network, the people said, rendering some offensive drones and interceptor drones virtually useless.
Musk and Trump discussed the Starlink decision in a call soon after the slowdown became public, while the president was campaigning last week, two of the people said. One of the people also claimed Musk and Trump discussed the matter prior to the decision to throttle Starlink.
Musk himself posted on X hours after the slowdown became public, “Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” using the acronym for president of the United States. Trump told reporters Monday that he didn’t know who was responsible for the Starlink slowdown, “but I would like to find out.”
Some U.S. officials say that Musk acted unilaterally and that Trump didn’t specifically order any retribution against Ukraine. But a person familiar with the situation said Musk talked to multiple senior administration officials, including with Trump, before imposing the new speed cap, which Ukrainian officials said had allowed Russian missiles to evade their defenses.
The episode has spiked U.S.-Ukraine tensions to their highest level since Trump berated Zelensky in the Oval Office last year. But it has also highlighted the singular influence of Musk over the war, as Starlink provides a lifeline for Ukrainian forces on the front lines attacking Russian troops and defending themselves from strikes. With a seeming flick of a switch, Musk has the power to alter the course of a deadly conflict.
On Oct. 10, just days before Starlink speeds slowed, Trump said he told Zelensky, “‘You can do whatever you want to Russia, but don’t hit the refineries because that’s a world problem.’ And what does he do? He goes and hits the diesel fuel. He better damn well stop.”
Musk responded to a White House video of those remarks on X: “Zelensky has gone too far.” Four days later, Ukrainian drone operators reported that they were losing unrestricted access to the Starlink network for unexplained reasons, leading to the urgent requests from Kyiv for an explanation.
Whose Idea?
Looking More Like Trump’s Decision
That weak statement clarifies matters. It points to the idea being Musk’s and Trump approving it.
Access Allegedly Restored
Today, the Wall Street Journal reports Trump Called Musk and Asked Him to Lift Ukraine Starlink Restrictions
President Trump called Elon Musk on Wednesday and asked him to lift restrictions on a military-grade version of Starlink in Ukraine that the SpaceX chief had throttled, U.S. officials said.
The system was working more normally Thursday, shortly after their conversation, U.S. and Ukrainian officials said. Some Ukrainian officials said the system wasn’t restored to full functionality but was working at higher speeds than under the cap.
Trump told Musk he was frustrated the system’s speeds remained capped at around 100 miles an hour, officials said. The speed limit rendered some of Ukraine’s offensive drones and interceptors powerless against Russian attacks.
The speed cap meant Ukrainian hardware couldn’t stay connected to the satellite-based network when traveling at high rates of speed, according to people familiar with the matter. Ukrainian officials said the move would cost Ukrainian lives.
Russia overnight launched another massive barrage against Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, just a day after Moscow said it had agreed to trilateral talks with the U.S. and Ukraine to end the war.
Does Vance Get Anything Right?
Asked about Musk’s decision to throttle Starlink, Vice President JD Vance on Thursday told reporters “it’s completely understandable that he doesn’t want to get in the middle of a war without the U.S. government effectively directing him on what to do.”
“I don’t think this is about Elon. I think it’s fundamentally about what America’s policy in Ukraine and Russia is going to be,” he continued.
Rubio – It Sort of Just Happened
The Finger-Pointing:
- Musk claimed on X that Starshield is “owned and controlled by the US government,” stating that any speed or usage limits are decided by the U.S. military and the White House.
- The White House and Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied that the U.S. government ordered or had foreknowledge of the slowdown, insisting it was a private decision by Musk and SpaceX.
- Rubio says “It sort of happened.”
Facts of the Matter
- Ukraine had full Starshield (Military-Grade Starlink) access.
- Musk throttled it after discussing things with Trump. Share of blame is debatable.
- Trump tells Musk to restore access but disputes over that happening.
Yes, this is about Musk. And Vance appears to be nowhere in this loop, looking silly.
Seven Republicans and 16 Democrats Send Letter to Trump
Please note Seven Republicans join letter urging Trump, Musk to give Ukraine targeting access in Russia
A bipartisan group of nearly two dozen House members is urging President Trump to ask tech mogul Elon Musk to give Ukraine access to Starlink satellite systems to hunt for missile launchers inside Russia, according to a letter sent Wednesday and obtained exclusively by The Hill.
The signatories included seven House Republicans alongside 16 Democrats, widening the GOP coalition looking to bring Trump back to the side of Ukraine as he has swung hard in favor of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We are writing to urge you to ask Elon Musk to let Ukraine use the Starlink satellite internet system to hunt for missile launchers inside Russia. With one phone call, you could both save lives and give Vladimir Putin greater incentives to negotiate,” the lawmakers wrote.
The Republican signatories include stalwart Ukraine supporters Reps. Joe Wilson (S.C.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) and Don Bacon (Neb.), along with Reps. Carlos Gimenez (Fla.), Jeff Hurd (Colo.), Andy Harris (Md.) and Max Miller (Ohio), who represents a heavily Ukrainian district.
“Mr. President, we all share the goal of bringing an end to the war in Ukraine and the devastating loss of life it has caused,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter sent Wednesday.
“Unfortunately, Putin presently has no intention of stopping the bloodshed.”
Some Republicans have joined Democrats in calling for an investigation into the throttling of Starlink and Starshield. Many of these same Republicans have expressed further outrage over Trump waiving sanctions on Russia to export diesel fuel, as he tries to lower prices before the midterms.
Fitzpatrick and Bacon, in particular, have threatened to disrupt Trump’s agenda after the midterms if the president does not change course on Russia and Ukraine.
This includes providing Ukraine “any and all defensive equipment,” blocking imports of Russian oil and raising sanctions against Russia, Fitzpatrick wrote on social media Monday.
“Each and every one of these items will be brought to the House Floor—and each and every one of these items will pass on the House Floor by an overwhelming margin,” he wrote.
Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) vowed to Force a House Vote
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) vowed Saturday to force a House vote to block Russian oil purchases, challenging President Trump’s diesel deal with President Vladimir Putin.
Five-Point Synopsis
- Either Trump or Musk or both F’d up.
- It just happened.
- A bipartisan backlash ensued.
- Trump reversed course after the backlash but disputes remain if it happened.
- Vance and Rubio were clueless the whole time.
Recall that this is over diesel and Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries.
On what planet is diesel going to be fixed before the midterm election?
Hint: The election is 11 days from now.
Meanwhile Bickering on Other Issues
For discussion, please see Ramaswamy’s Pedophile-Defending Ad in Ohio May Be the End of His Political Career
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Importing Russian diesel is illegal. There is no real need anyway.
October 17, 2026: Trump Waives Most of the Russia Sanctions in the Lindsey Graham Act
Having worked in Aerospace for a major prime contractor for about 30 years, I can say that this is absolutely insane, at least for Starshield.
When a company builds a satellite system (or military aircraft, or ship, or other major military system), the contractor delivers said system to the Government after the Government contractually buys it off. For a satellite system, this happens on-orbit after it is successfully activated, tested and confirmed to be operational.
At that point, the Government owns and operates the satellite. The contractor will still support the satellite and provide software upgrades as well as engineering support to resolve anomalies and optimize performance. However, the Government is responsible for all operational decisions for the satellite. Any modifications to satellite performance are solely at the discretion of the Government (of course they can be advised by the contractor, but the contractor is not the decision maker).
So either one of two things is happening here with Starshield. Either the relationship described above is different and Musk somehow retains operational decision authority (which would be unprecedented and I think is very unlikely) or else drumpf and company are playing games and lying about it. Or perhaps a little of both. I’ll say that Starshield is very opaque and that very little has been disclosed about it both from a technical performance perspective as well as from a contractual perspective. Very little data is available open source (and no I never worked Starshield so I personally know very little about it other than basic capabilities. I will say that open source reporting says that it is using a Downlink band of frequencies to Uplink data, which is a real no-no, but Starshield doesn’t seem to give a damn. Go figure…)
“the Government owns and operates the satellite”…but as the USA resembles an oligarchy, it is difficult to determine who owns the government.
“playing games and lying about it” Say it ain’t so.
Thanks for that.
When is Ukraine going to figure out that they are on their own?
When is everyone on earth whose name is not Trump, or his class of beneficiaries (for now), going to figure that out?
They’re not on their own. The collective west is behind them, several thousand miles behind them, telling them to send all their men to die fighting a much bigger country in a war they cannot win.
When are the Ukrainians going to figure out that they live next door to Russia, and that it wasn’t smart to try to help the Americans place missiles so close to Russia?
I say nothing about how smart it was to murder thousands of Russian-speaking Ukrainian citizens.
Mister Arbitrary has weighed in again, leaving us again with bated breath awaiting his next midnight switch. “Us,” meaning the whole world. That is his deepest desire, to have our attention anxiously bent toward him at all times. If there was a meter to measure the value destruction, it would be sprung like a cartoon cuckoo clock.
Then there is the court jester, another wild card off his rocker, the richest guy in the world. I’m reminded of the cartoon crows Heckle and Jeckle, two antisocial psychopathic demons, chewing up the landscape..
Re: Trump and Musk: Where is seal tem six…when you really need them?
In this scenario, I think it falls upon the President. You cannot have such sophisticated equipment, able to assist and aid in warfare, and not have the only one in charge of its use, and especially in war, against anyone or anyplace, other than the Commander and Chief imo.
Ukraine is backed by the U.S. so they are in charge in these situations. Hopefully they are not acting on there own, or we are targeting the wrong places perhaps.
Wow, what a horrific take. I’m not the biggest fan of Musk, but Starlink is HIS tech and he can use it however he wishes so long as it doesn’t violate American or International laws. Now, if the USA were under attack and we needed to commandeer his tech for our own defense, then yes, I believe our laws allow for that, but this is a foreign turf war located in the other hemisphere and it has absolutely nothing to do with us (other than the fact we started it and are keeping it going indefinitely for profit and to weaken/antagonize Putin for some reason). The Ukraine will NEVER “beat” Russia, so any technological or other type of assistance that we offer to the comedian puppet will only result in even more unnecessary deaths. Do you want to see ANOTHER MILLION Ukrainian (and Russian) boys blown to bits for no reason? Putin already did what he was forced to do by NATO. The only reason that Russia is still fighting is because Ukraine won’t stop.
Ukraine should orbit their own satellite system.