SpaceX CEO Elon Musk allegedly made the final call to throttle Starlink speeds for Ukrainian drones, a move that blindsided air assault forces last week, the Wall Street Journal reports. This development contradicts claims made by Musk, who previously stated that all decisions regarding the military version of the technology are controlled by the US military and President Trump.
The restriction, which took effect early Thursday, limits the data connection for terminals moving faster than 160 kph. This speed cap forces drones to fly slower than intended, making it easier for Russian weapons to target or evade them. Ukrainian officials report that this issue affects Starshield, the military-focused satellite service offered by SpaceX.
