Beskrestnov: 90 kph cap makes Musk's Starlink drone claim impossible

Elon Musk stated on Saturday that Ukraine violated the commercial terms of Starlink by using the service for offensive drone strikes designed to kill people. The accusation came after SpaceX imposed a new restriction blocking the satellite technology on drones exceeding specific speed thresholds. Musk argued that Starlink is a civilian system, distinct from Starshield, which is controlled by the US government.

Musk wrote that the use of the commercial service for lethal attacks was never permitted. He claimed the loophole was closed the previous week when the speed limits were enforced. "Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people," he posted.

Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, rejected the claim in a Telegram post on Sunday. Beskrestnov described the offensive use as physically impossible under previous conditions. He noted that all Starlink terminals over Ukrainian territory, including Russian-occupied areas, were already subject to a movement speed limit of 70 to 90 kilometers per hour.

Beskrestnov added that Starlink does not function over Russian territory. Other Ukrainian officials, both current and former, echoed this view, arguing that previous throttling measures already prevented the military from using the system in the manner Musk described. They accused Musk of limiting access to Starshield, the military variant available to Ukraine through a US government deal.

The dispute, which began nearly two weeks ago, appears to be resolving. Zelenskyy said over the weekend that the new satellite restrictions have been lifted. This development suggests a potential end to the controversy regarding how Ukraine utilizes the satellite network for its defense operations.