Elon Musk accused Ukraine of breaching Starlink terms of service by employing the satellite network for lethal drone strikes. The accusation followed a move by SpaceX to restrict the technology on fast-moving drones.
Musk Claims Terms Violation
Musk stated on Saturday that Ukraine utilized the commercial service for offensive drone operations. Musk explained that using a civilian commercial system for lethal offensive strikes was never permitted and that the loophole was addressed the previous week.
Musk wrote that utilizing Starlink for offensive drone attacks to take lives was never allowed and should not be permitted. He distinguished the commercial service from Starshield, noting that the military variant is controlled by the US government and its decisions are up to them. Musk asserted that the Ukrainian military breached the terms of service, prompting the closure of the loophole.
Ukrainian Officials Deny Allegations
A current and a former Ukrainian official rejected Musk’s claims, stating that previous restrictions implemented by SpaceX already stopped the military from using Starlink in that manner. Additionally, Ukrainian representatives accused Musk of throttling their access to Starshield, which is provided through an agreement with the US government.
Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, refuted the allegation on Sunday via a Telegram post. Beskrestnov stated that every Starlink terminal across Ukrainian territory, including Russian-occupied regions, was already limited to a movement speed between 70 and 90 kilometers per hour. He further noted that the satellite service does not operate over Russian territory.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced over the weekend that the recent satellite restrictions have been removed, potentially resolving a dispute that started nearly two weeks prior.
