Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) asked Elon Musk on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, to clarify reports that the Ukrainian military lost access to Starlink satellite services. Tillis expressed hope that the disruptions to the space-based communications network were the result of a technical error rather than a deliberate policy change by SpaceX.
The request followed reports from Ukrainian officials on Wednesday stating that SpaceX had imposed speed limits on Starlink internet terminals overnight. Defense adviser Serhii Beskrestnov reported that the military version of the service was throttled, which hampered the operation of drones and air defenses. Former Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov stated later that afternoon that connectivity at speeds up to 160 km per hour was being restored, though he called the removal of all speed limits critical for defense.
A source familiar with the matter stated that data speeds were limited to prevent Starlink from being used on objects moving faster than 100 mph, such as drones, airplanes, and helicopters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized the service limitations as a "big mistake" that would cost lives, noting that the disruptions coincided with Russian missile and drone attacks that damaged power facilities across the country.
The scale of the impact involves thousands of Starlink terminals across Ukraine and hundreds of thousands of civilians recently affected by power outages following Russian strikes. While specific costs to the Ukrainian government were not reported, President Zelensky stated that the lack of full Starlink functionality would lead to increased casualties. The incident highlights the reliance of national militaries on private corporate infrastructure during active conflicts. Some Ukrainian officials suggested the restrictions might be tied to U.S. government pressure on Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, noting reports that Washington has considered reducing intelligence support if Ukraine does not comply.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Starlink speeds were reportedly being partially restored to military units. However, it remains unknown if SpaceX will lift the 100-mph speed cap permanently or if the U.S. government will intervene in the company's service policies. Senator Tillis has requested a formal clarification from Musk regarding SpaceX's intent and its position on supporting Ukrainian sovereignty. No specific deadline for a response from Musk or SpaceX was reported.