A Ukrainian official has challenged Elon Musk's assertion that Ukraine's military breached Starlink's terms of service, which led to SpaceX restricting access to its satellite technology. Serhii Beskrestnov, an advisor to President Zelenskyy, argued that operational limitations made it impossible for Ukraine to use Starlink for offensive drone strikes as Musk claimed.
He noted that Starlink's civilian service does not operate over Russian territory and that Ukrainian drones have been restricted to speeds of 70 to 90 km/h for months. The restrictions had previously disrupted Ukraine's military drone operations, leaving the country vulnerable to Russian attacks.
Following the backlash, high-speed service was restored, but the incident has prompted Ukraine and its allies to seek alternative satellite communication systems. This situation underscores the potential risks of relying on private companies for critical military communications, as well as the geopolitical implications of such dependencies.
SpaceX's Starlink generated $5.25 billion in revenue in Q3 2026, indicating its significant role in both commercial and government sectors, including contracts with various countries and the Pentagon