Trump Says Musk Restored Ukraine's Starlink Access

Ukraine's military has regained improved access to the Starlink satellite internet network after restrictions disrupted drone operations and battlefield communications, US President Donald Trump said. On October 22, 2026, Trump credited Elon Musk with restoring the service but declined to confirm whether he had personally contacted the billionaire to request the change.

The reported restrictions affected Ukraine's ability to conduct offensive drone missions against Russian targets and operate interceptor drones for air defense. Although the system was functioning more normally by Thursday, Ukrainian officials said its performance had not fully returned to normal.

Trump addressed the issue after The Wall Street Journal reported that he had contacted Musk to ask him to lift the restrictions. According to the newspaper, Trump was frustrated that Starlink speeds remained capped at approximately 160 kilometers per hour, affecting the effectiveness of Ukrainian military drones.

When reporters asked whether he had spoken with Musk, Trump declined to clarify who had initiated contact or whether a conversation had taken place.

"I don't want to comment on it, whether I called or whether somebody else called, doesn't make any difference, I guess. The bottom line — he put it back," Trump said.

The Wall Street Journal, citing US and Ukrainian officials, reported that Starlink began operating more normally shortly after the alleged conversation. Some Ukrainian officials told the newspaper that the restrictions had eased and speeds had increased, although full functionality had not been restored. The BBC said it had not independently confirmed the newspaper's account.

Trump has denied involvement in the decision to restrict Ukraine's access. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said decisions concerning Ukraine's access to Starlink rested with SpaceX and Musk rather than the White House.

The White House has repeatedly denied ordering restrictions on the service. Musk previously said the US government ultimately controls access to Starshield, the more secure, military-grade network used by Ukraine for some operations, and noted that the system was designed for the Pentagon.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had raised concerns about the network's performance earlier Thursday. He said military connectivity had not yet returned to the required level and indicated that he was seeking further information from Washington.

"We are working on it," Zelensky said, describing the continuing effort to restore the system's performance.

Zelensky also said he was awaiting a response from Rubio, who had promised to provide information within approximately 48 hours. His remarks came shortly before the Wall Street Journal published its report about the alleged Trump-Musk conversation.

Ukraine relies on both the civilian Starlink service and the more secure Starshield network for communications and military operations. The satellite infrastructure uses thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide internet connectivity in remote areas and on battlefields, where reliable connections are essential for operating drones.

The dispute comes amid worsening relations between Kyiv and Washington. Trump has pressed Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, arguing that the strikes have contributed to higher prices, while his administration has waived some sanctions on Russia and agreed to a deal to import Russian diesel into the US market.

Ukraine and its European allies have criticized aspects of Trump's approach to Moscow. Meanwhile, Russia continued its attacks on Ukraine, including ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv, as Ukraine launched hundreds of drones toward Moscow on Thursday. Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, and Trump's stated goal of ending the war has remained unfulfilled.