Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk has suggested that the US government could be behind the decision to restrict the speed of SpaceX’s satellite-technology used by Ukraine’s military.
What is Starshield, SpaceX’s military-grade Starlink system, and how will its restriction affect Ukraine?Read moreIn a post of X, he appeared to suggest the Trump administration was behind the move, which Ukraine says restricts its ability to use key defensive weapons.
In Ukraine, civilian casualties were already rising. Restrictions on Starlink will only worsen the death tollRead more
A Ukrainian serviceman of 47th brigade prepares a Starlink satellite internet systems at his positions at a front line. Photograph: ReutersMusk said:
“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS.
Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX. Usage of Starlink is limited to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action, as doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial company.”
In further posts overnight, reacting to Zelenskyy’s comments on his relationship with Donald Trump, Musk went further and appeared to suggest Zelenskyy should leave the post, saying it’s “time to go.”
In a TV interview with Piers Morgan, Zelenskyy said he felt “betrayed” by Trump’s decisions and worried about “losing a strong partner,” playing a critical role across Ukraine’s defence.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy feels ‘betrayed’ by Donald Trump over Starlink accessRead moreFor what it’s worth, Trump denied that his administration had cut intelligence sharing on Tuesday, but Zelenskyy said in an interview with US broadcaster NPR, aired on Wednesday, that military advisers had received threats from the US that intelligence sharing could be limited in the future.
The issue is likely to come up again today and tomorrow as EU leaders meet in Brussels for key political talks on the future.
With today’s discussions focused on the bloc’s internal matters, including the EU’s next budget, Ukraine is expected to come up on Friday when Zelenskyy joins other leaders in Brussels. But the ongoing crisis in Ukraine’s relations with the US risks overshadowing the entire meeting.
I will bring you all the updates throughout the day.
It’s Thursday, 15 October 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
