Ukraine reports Starlink restrictions after Musk criticism of Russian strikes
Kyiv's reliance on the satellite internet service for military operations has been exposed by reported throttling of services.
At a glance
- Ukraine reported Starlink services were throttled after Musk criticised Ukrainian strikes on Russian data centres
- Analysts say the restrictions expose Kyiv's reliance on the satellite internet system for military operations
- A war and technology professor said allowing a private company such influence on combat was always going to be problematic
Ukraine has reported restrictions on its use of Starlink, the satellite internet system operated by SpaceX, according to analysts and observers. The throttling followed comments by SpaceX chief Elon Musk criticising Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian data centres.
David Galbreath, a professor of war and technology, told France 24 that the restrictions were predictable given the challenges of allowing a private organisation to play such a significant role in combat operations. The incident has highlighted Ukraine's dependence on Starlink for both offensive and defensive capabilities in its conflict with Russia.
Why it matters
The incident underscores how dependent modern militaries have become on private technology providers and raises questions about the control such companies can exert over military operations.
Original reporting
This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.