Musk accused of proposing Starlink throttling in Ukraine

According to the Telegraph, Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, is alleged to have proposed to Donald Trump that Starlink be throttled in Ukraine, a move that reportedly prevented the Ukrainian military from intercepting Russian drones. This claim is based on four sources familiar with the discussions, as well as a senior European official and two Ukrainian sources.

Musk links decision to Trump administration

Musk had previously stated on October 14 that the decision to throttle Starlink belonged to the Trump administration, and that Starshield, the militarized version of Starlink, is under the control of the U.S. government. A source cited by the Telegraph claimed that Musk and Trump were "in cahoots," and that Musk was not innocent of the decision.

Throttling reportedly hindered Ukrainian military

The throttling reportedly cut the connection speed of terminals exceeding 160 km/h, which hindered the Ukrainian military's ability to intercept Russian drones. Following what Kyiv described as a "night of carnage," Musk allegedly feared a backlash from European consumers, potentially affecting the sales of his companies.

Musk and Trump deny involvement

Musk denied the allegations on October 16, stating that the decision was made by the Trump administration. However, Trump himself denied involvement, stating, "It wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon," during a press appearance on the same day. Earlier, Reuters reported that the order to throttle the network came from the White House, though it did not specify who gave the order.

Ukraine highlights impact of reduced speed

Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, emphasized the critical role of Starlink in intercepting Russian drones, noting that its speed had been reduced, making it difficult to intercept some attacks. He stated that the speed was being restored but had not yet reached its previous level.

Criticism from Richard Branson

Richard Branson expressed concern over the situation on his LinkedIn account, stating that the slowdown of Starlink and the lack of early warning during Russian missile launches had already cost the lives of Ukrainian civilians. He criticized the Trump administration for prioritizing personal interests over the greater good and urged European leaders to take action in response to Trump's decisions.