Elon Musk posted on X on Saturday, June 2, 2026, accusing the Ukrainian military of violating Starlink’s terms of service by deploying the civilian satellite network for offensive drone strikes, and said the loophole that permitted this had been shut last week.
Musk’s claim follows months of headlines about Starlink’s vital role in keeping Ukrainian troops connected amid Russian jamming. He distinguished the commercial Starlink from Starshield, a U.S.‑controlled system, and warned that using the former to kill people had never been sanctioned. "Starlink is the only system that cannot be jammed or blown up, at least for now," he wrote, underscoring its strategic value.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded that operational speeds for both Starlink and Starshield had been restored to pre‑restriction levels and that the networks remain critical for frontline communications. A spokesperson for Ukraine’s Defense Ministry added that the army would continue to rely on the satellite link, citing the system’s resilience against Russian electronic warfare.
The accusation has drawn a sharp reaction from U.S. officials, who are reviewing whether the revised terms could trigger sanctions on the Ukrainian military. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said the U.S. would consult with allies before taking any action. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian family in Donetsk, who lost a son in a drone strike last month, said they feared a loss of Starlink could mean another collapse of their village’s communications.
Musk’s post comes as Ukraine’s government prepares to negotiate a new framework for satellite usage with SpaceX, while the U.S. Congress is set to hold a hearing next week on the legality of commercial satellite services in armed conflicts.