Elon Musk ordered Starlink slowdown for Ukraine: Report

Sign UpSign InOpen menuMarketsMarket OverviewAfrican EquitiesCryptocurrencyForeign ExchangeCommoditiesNewsLatestFeaturedCryptocurrencyEconomySpecial ReportsTechnologyTradeClimate ChangeMarketsRegionsSouthern AfricaWest AfricaEast AfricaInternationalCNBC TVLatest VideoTop VideoWatch LiveEarningsCEO InterviewsAnalysisTV GuideShowsInsightsInsightsConnecting NationsInvestmentPower LunchFinancial EducationVision 2050LivestreamEventsSign Up / Sign InClose MenuSearch CNBC AfricaSearchQuick LinksAfricaSouth AfricaRwandaNigeriaPower LunchInvestmentTechnologyMarketsFinancial EducationInsightsPoliticalElon Musk ordered Starlink slowdown for Ukraine: ReportKevin BreuningerBy CNBCPublished October 21, 2026 at 08:23 GMTSaveShare Key Points Elon Musk ordered the slowdown of a version of SpaceX’s Starlink that Ukraine has relied on in its war against Russia, The Wall Street Journal reported. Musk and President Donald Trump discussed the move to throttle Starlink “soon after” the change first became public last week, two people told the Journal. Musk previously said Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink, is controlled by the U.S. government and that any speed or usage limits are “decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS.” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk attends a press briefing held by President Donald Trump with AI executives following a meeting on artificial intelligence, outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Sept. 29, 2026.Finn Gomez | Getty Images Elon Musk ordered the slowdown of a version of SpaceX’s Starlink that Ukraine has relied on in its war against Russia, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing U.S. officials and people familiar with the matter.

Musk, SpaceX’s founder and CEO, last week “capped the speeds at which Ukrainian hardware could stay connected to the satellite-based network,” the Journal reported. The decision left some Ukrainian drones virtually inoperable, according to the newspaper.

Musk and President Donald Trump, who have both recently criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, discussed the move to throttle Starlink “soon after” the change first became public last week, two people told the Journal.

One of the people who spoke with the news outlet claimed that Musk discussed the matter with multiple senior Trump administration officials, including the president himself, prior to imposing the Starlink speed cap.

The White House and an email associated with Musk did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on the Journal’s report, which was published minutes after SpaceX reported its latest quarterly earnings.

The Journal’s story was not mentioned in a subsequent conference call with Musk and investors.

Trump said Monday that he did not know who ordered the Starlink interruption, “But I’d like to find out.”

The Journal reported that Zelenskyy’s public complaints that the slowdown weakens Ukraine’s defenses against Russian attacks led to an informal investigation within the White House.

Last Wednesday, Musk wrote on X that Starshield systems, the military-grade version of Starlink, are “owned and controlled by the US government” and that any speed or usage limits are “decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS.”

The business stories shaping Africa, selected by our newsroom and delivered to your inbox.

News, markets and insightStay ahead of the market

About CNBC AfricaBoardProducers & PresentersMarketsWatch CNBC Africa LiveVision 2050ContactNews TipsGot a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you.

NewslettersSign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC Africa delivered to your inbox

Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services.

Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. African Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis.