A Ukrainian defense technology adviser has disputed Elon Musk’s explanation for Starlink restrictions that disrupted Ukraine’s military drone services. High-speed service had been restored by October 24, 2026, Ukrainian officials said.

Key Takeaways

  • Musk said Ukraine’s military violated Starlink’s terms by using the service for offensive drone strikes.
  • Adviser Serhii Beskrestnov said existing technical limits made the strikes Musk described impossible using commercial Starlink.
  • Ukraine and its allies are pursuing alternative satellite communications systems.

Why Ukraine disputes the Starlink restrictions

On October 24, SpaceX CEO Musk wrote on X that Ukraine’s military had violated Starlink’s terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes. Ukrainian officials had previously said restrictions on high-speed satellite service disrupted drone operations and left the country vulnerable to Russian attacks.

In a Telegram post on October 25, Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, contested Musk’s allegation. He said the civilian Starlink system does not function over Russian territory and that Ukrainian drones using it had been subject to a speed limit of 70 to 90 kilometers per hour, or roughly 43 to 56 miles per hour, for months.

Beskrestnov argued that those limits made it physically impossible to use commercial Starlink for deep- or medium-range strike operations. Ukrainian officials said high-speed service for both Starlink and Starshield had been restored by October 24.

Alternatives to SpaceX satellite services

Starshield is SpaceX’s military-focused network for government and national security use, built on technology developed for its broader commercial Starlink network. Ukrainian officials have said the restrictions were imposed without warning.

Ukraine and its allies are seeking or building alternative satellite communications systems. Ukraine has announced partnerships involving Norway, Finnish mobile equipment company Nokia and satellite maker ICEYE. Poland has also discussed plans for an alternative system.

SpaceX’s Starlink generated $5.25 billion in revenue in the third quarter of 2026, up from $3.1 billion a year earlier. Consumer subscribers accounted for $3.12 billion, while government and enterprise customers contributed $2.13 billion.

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