From Ars Technica · · 2m
Musk accuses Ukraine of violating Starlink terms
Elon Musk says Ukraine used the commercial satellite service for offensive drone strikes, but Ukrainian officials deny the claim and say technical limits made it impossible.
In brief
Elon Musk says Ukraine used the commercial satellite service for offensive drone strikes, but Ukrainian officials deny the claim and say technical limits made it impossible. Musk accused Ukraine of violating Starlink terms by using it for offensive drone strikes; Ukraine denied this and said speed restrictions made it…
Musk accuses Ukraine of violations
Elon Musk said Ukraine used Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes. SpaceX had imposed speed restrictions on the technology the previous week.
Musk's statement on Saturday
Musk wrote that using Starlink for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed. He said Ukraine military violated Starlink terms and used it for offensive strikes.
“using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be.”
Ukraine denies the accusation
Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology advisor for Zelenskyy, denied the allegation. He said all Starlink terminals in Ukraine were already subject to a movement speed limit of seventy to ninety kilometres per hour.
“Consequently, it is PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE for us to use commercial Starlink for deep-strike or medium-range strike operations.”
Musk cites Zelenskyy's own post
Musk wrote that Zelenskyy posted about using Starlink for offensive drone strikes. Zelenskyy had said Ukraine uses Starlink for mid-range strikes against enemy military targets in occupied territories.
“We also use Starlink for mid-range strikes against enemy military targets in our temporarily occupied territories.”
Confusion over Starlink and Starshield
Starlink and Starshield names are often used interchangeably by government officials, making it difficult to determine whether statements refer to the civilian or military version of the technology.
Former defense advisor confirms denial
Serhii Sternenko, who served as an advisor for Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, said Ukraine did not violate terms of use. In February, whitelists were introduced requiring military terminals to connect to Starshield.
“using civilian Starlink for drone missions was technically impossible. All drone missions that required satellite communication could only be carried out using Starshield.”
Restrictions are lifted
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said over the weekend that the new satellite restrictions have been lifted.Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported on October twenty-fourth that Starshield was working above speeds of four hundred kilometres per hour again.
“Starlink and Starshield operations have been restored to the speeds we had before the restrictions. The speeds are now where they need to be.”
Musk emphasizes Starlink's importance
Musk wrote that Starlink remains critical to Ukraine's defense as the only system that cannot be jammed or blown up. He said if Starlink were turned off, the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately.
“Starlink remains critical to the defense of Ukraine, as it is the only system that cannot be jammed or blown up, at least for now.”
The key point
Musk accused Ukraine of violating Starlink terms by using it for offensive drone strikes; Ukraine denied this and said speed restrictions made it technically impossible, and restrictions were later lifted.
