Stories
Clinton and Tillis Question Elon Musk Over Starlink Disruptions in Ukraine
- •Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Thom Tillis publicly questioned Elon Musk regarding reported Starlink disruptions in Ukraine.
- •Reports indicate that SpaceX introduced speed limits on Starlink terminals, which allegedly caused several Ukrainian military missions to fail.
- •Hillary Clinton urged Musk on X not to abandon Ukrainians fighting for their freedom against an aggressor.
- •Senator Thom Tillis asked Musk to confirm that the service disruptions were unintended and not a change in SpaceX policy.
- •Ukrainian officials stated that US-managed Starlink terminals are vital for their military operations and combat capabilities.
Key Questions Answered
SpaceX introduced speed limits on terminals travelling over 160 km/h or 100 miles per hour, which disrupted drone missions and forced Ukrainian forces to cancel operations. Elon Musk stated that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government, and any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and POTUS.
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Elon Musk not to abandon Ukrainians fighting for their freedom, while Republican Senator Thom Tillis questioned whether the overnight disruptions were unintended and warned that intentionally degrading Ukraine's defense might be construed as aiding a mass murderer.
Elon Musk clarified that Starlink is a commercial service restricted strictly to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military actions. Meanwhile, the parallel Starshield system is owned and controlled by the US government, with usage and speed limitations determined by the US military and the President.
