Elon Musk has stated that his company, SpaceX, restricted Ukraine's Starlink internet service, claiming the country violated terms of service by using it for military offensive actions. The announcement comes as Ukrainian officials reported that connectivity issues, which had hampered defensive operations for over a week, appeared to have been resolved.

Musk's assertion suggests a deliberate action by SpaceX to curb the use of its civilian commercial service for purposes deemed offensive. This move occurred amid broader discussions between Washington and Kyiv regarding Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. SpaceX has previously provided Starlink terminals to Ukraine following Russia's invasion, which have been crucial for maintaining communications in remote areas and coordinating battlefield operations.

On his social media platform X, Musk wrote that using Starlink for "offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be." He further clarified that "Ukraine's military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week." Musk also reiterated that Starshield, a separate, military-grade system controlled by the US government, is a different service and its usage is determined by Washington.

The implications of Musk's statement suggest a potential shift in SpaceX's support for Ukraine's military operations, specifically concerning the use of its technology for offensive actions. While SpaceX has emphasized its role in defending Ukraine, the company is drawing a line at what it defines as unequivocally offensive strikes.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov responded to Musk's claim, calling his post "very strange." Beskrestnov stated that drones operating via Starlink in Ukraine have a speed restriction of 70-90 km/h (43-56 mph) and do not function in Russian territory. He argued that these limitations physically prevent the commercial Starlink service from being used for deep or medium-range strikes, and expressed surprise that Musk was unaware of these restrictions.

Ukraine utilizes both the civilian Starlink and the more secure Starshield services, both powered by SpaceX's satellite networks. Starlink facilitates military unit coordination, while Starshield enables real-time target identification and operation of interceptor drones. Russia is not authorized to use Starlink, meaning the network does not function when Ukraine targets Russian oil refineries with long-range missiles or drones.

Earlier on the same day Musk made his latest statements, Ukraine's Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara reported a stable connection, with drones now capable of speeds exceeding 400 km/h. Previously, Kyiv had indicated that the connection would cut out above 161 km/h. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also noted on Telegram that the speeds had returned to necessary levels.

Musk did not specify precisely why SpaceX chose to restrict the service or when the decision was made, only that the "loophole was closed last week." The exact timeline and the specific nature of the alleged violations by Ukraine remain points of contention.