Trump denies ordering Starshield throttle in Ukraine

President Donald Trump has denied responsibility for the throttling of Starshield, SpaceX’s military service, in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, Trump said he was unsure who ordered the restriction but asserted it was not him.

"Well, I don’t know if it was anybody. It wasn’t me. And I don’t think it was Elon [Musk] either. And from what I understand, it’s the same as it’s always been," Trump said.

Reports on the Order

The denial follows reports that the order to throttle Starshield originated within the US government. On Thursday, sources told Reuters that the order came from the White House. Additionally, four sources told the Telegraph on Friday that the move was initially suggested by Elon Musk but decided by Trump. This development occurred after Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky began publicly feuding over Ukrainian strikes on Russian diesel targets.

Musk has suggested the US government might have been behind the restrictions. He explained that Starshield is managed by the US government and that the Pentagon could have been responsible. Starshield is described as the military-grade sister service to Starlink, the civilian-use high-speed internet network operated by SpaceX. According to BBC, Starshield relies on Starlink.

Impact on Ukraine

Ukrainian officials reported that the throttling limited terminals moving at speeds above 100 mph (160 km/h). This restriction hampered Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian drone and missile attacks and limited its medium-range drone campaign against Russian targets. On Tuesday night, the speed limit meant any weapons traveling faster than 100 mph lost connectivity to the network.

The slowdown coincided with deadly strikes on Ukraine. On Tuesday, Ukraine was hit by several deadly strikes, leaving some 600,000 people without power as communications and energy facilities used by the military were targeted. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Friday that speed had yet to be restored.

Senate Investigation Request

A bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to the Department of War’s Office of Inspector General calling for an investigation into the disruption. The senators included Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jack Reed (D-RI), John Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Coons (D-DE), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

"We are particularly alarmed by incidents in which U.S. diplomatic, military, and security personnel were unable to reach designated bunkers during Russian air raids, amid reported disruptions to intelligence-sharing and early-warning capabilities," the senators wrote. "We urgently request an Inspector General investigation into these incidents, including whether actions or decisions by the Department of Defense or its contractors contributed to these dangerous circumstances."

A spokesperson for the inspector general’s office confirmed receipt of the letter, stating, "The Office of Inspector General has received the letter and we are in the process of preparing a response."

Why it matters

The dispute highlights tensions between Washington and Kyiv regarding Ukraine's military strategy and US support. The US had previously warned it could withhold intelligence sharing if Ukraine did not stop hitting Russian oil refineries. Zelensky resumed targeting these refineries after a controversial diesel deal between Russia and the US, a move criticized by Trump. French President Emmanuel Macron vowed at a summit in Brussels that EU states would not abandon Ukraine, noting that Europe is working to help Ukraine with satellite and early warning systems.

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Sources

• washingtonexaminer.com: Trump says he doesn't know who ordered Starshield throttle in Ukraine
• bbc.com: Trump denies limiting Ukraine access to Starlink network

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.