Musk Ordered Starlink Speed Limits for Ukraine, Report Says

Restrictions on Ukraine's access to SpaceX's Starlink satellite network have reportedly disrupted the operation of some Ukrainian drones, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The report said Elon Musk ordered speed limits on a version of the service used by Ukrainian forces in their war against Russia. The Wall Street Journal cited US officials and people familiar with the matter in reporting that Musk, SpaceX's founder and CEO, imposed the restrictions the previous week.

The newspaper said the limits left some Ukrainian drones virtually inoperable, potentially affecting equipment used in the country's defense against Russian attacks. Two people familiar with the matter told the Journal that Musk and President Donald Trump discussed the restrictions soon after the change became public. One source also told the newspaper that Musk had consulted multiple senior Trump administration officials, including Trump, before the speed limits took effect.

The report emerged amid public criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by both Musk and Trump. Zelenskyy's complaints about the impact of the Starlink restrictions on Ukraine's defenses prompted an informal investigation within the White House, according to the Journal.

The White House and an email address associated with Musk did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment on the report. The Journal published its findings minutes after SpaceX announced its latest quarterly earnings, and the issue was not raised during a subsequent investor conference call with Musk. Trump addressed the interruption on Monday, October 19, saying he did not know who had ordered it and wanted to identify the person responsible.

"But I'd like to find out." Trump, US president, said. His remarks came as questions remained about the decision-making behind the restrictions and their effects on Ukraine's military operations. The Wall Street Journal's account did not establish publicly who ultimately authorized the change beyond its reporting that Musk ordered the speed limits.

Musk separately addressed control of Starshield, SpaceX's military-grade satellite communications system, in a post on X last Wednesday, October 14, according to the source article. His comments distinguished the military-focused system from the version of Starlink affected by the reported restrictions. "owned and controlled by the US government" and "decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS."

Musk, SpaceX founder and CEO, wrote on X, referring to Starshield systems and the authority governing speed or usage restrictions. Musk's post stated that Starshield systems belong to and are controlled by the US government. He also said the US military and, ultimately, the president determine any limits on the system's speed or usage.