Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that speed limits on Starshield, the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink that Ukraine says its forces use, look deliberate rather than technical. The network has been partly restored, but he said a cap of about 160 km/h remains in place.
When unexpected restrictions were reported earlier this week, Poland's foreign minister accused SpaceX CEO Elon Musk of "playing politics".
Musk posted on his platform that the US government owns and controls the system, and that decisions regarding its use rest with the military and, ultimately, the president.
Reuters sources said an order to slow down came from inside the White House, but President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday: "It wasn't me". "... and I don’t think it was Elon," he added. "And from what I understand, it's the same as it’s always been."
The restrictions come as relations between Kyiv and Washington sour. Musk is also close to the administration.
"If Donald Trump administration is cutting for Ukrainians intelligence and Starlink connectivity, they will not openly acknowledge it," said Olena Tregub, founder and Secretary General of NAKO, Ukraine's Independent Anti-Corruption Commission. "They would not say it openly that they are doing it. Because for Donald Trump these are huge risks, because now election is coming in November. If he loses not only the House, but also the Senate, impeachment is possible."
"[The] Trump administration can be challenged by lawyers, by political opponents for doing things like that. This is why, right now, it's very important to investigate what's really happening. Because most likely if they are cutting it they will be saying 'oh, it was just a cloud or It was just the temporary glitch'."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio late Saturday called claims that the government ordered restrictions "categorically false" and said Ukraine does not have access to the military version of the network, which conflicts with reports that Ukrainian forces have long used both Starlink and Starshield.
"Starshield is a totally different product... It has nothing to do with Ukraine. I know Ukraine wants access to Starshield," he said. "I don't know what the theory is, but nothing to do with the White House... No one at the White House ordered anyone to slow down the internet or slow down speed so that certain drones couldn't use it."
As Ukraine continues its investigation into the network slowdown, this isn't the first time that Starlink decisions have dictated what happens on this battlefield.