Elon Musk, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump have emerged as the three leading suspects in the US decision to restrict Ukraine’s use of Starlink satellites during the war.
Sources in Washington told The Mail on Sunday that any one of the three—or all of them—could be responsible for the sudden throttling of Musk’s Starlink communications network and its military-grade counterpart, Starshield. The move has reportedly stunned Ukraine’s military leadership.
Both systems were reportedly scaled back this week, leaving them unable to detect drones, missiles or aircraft entering Ukrainian airspace at speeds exceeding 100mph.
The restriction immediately weakened Ukraine’s ability to intercept incoming attacks, while several planned drone operations failed, according to officials in Kyiv.
Speaking at an EU conference in Belgium on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had “evidence” that Starlink was deliberately slowed as part of a “planned operation.”
He said tests conducted inside the European Union showed that Ukrainian drones relying on the satellites operated more slowly and eventually lost connection when they were flown in Ukraine.
“The conclusion is clear: the restrictions are in effect within Ukraine but do not apply within the European Union,” he said.
Musk, whose SpaceX company operates the satellite network, has been accused by unidentified US officials of proposing the speed restriction, with Trump then approving it.
President Zelensky today revealed “evidence” that the US jammed Ukraine’s military Starlink system
Musk denied the allegation, saying that only the Pentagon and the President had the authority to issue such an order.
Some insiders believe the decision may have come from Hegseth, who is reportedly seeking to strengthen his position with Trump amid speculation that he could be dismissed.
“It’s of course possible that all three worked together to pull it off,” said a national security analyst for a Democratic senator. The analyst, like other congressional staffers, spoke anonymously to protect his job.
“The intrigue is thick and the conjecture rampant,” the analyst added, describing the episode as “somewhere between a John le Carré novel, Machiavelli and Star Trek.”
Trump has suspended new sanctions against Russia just one week after reaching an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the United States to receive 300,000 tons of diesel fuel.
Congressional staffers told The Mail on Sunday that the White House may have used the Starlink episode to pressure Zelenskyy into ending attacks on Russian oil refineries and agreeing to surrender.
A senior White House official, however, said that “no such request was ever made by the President.”
Other sources said the move was not the result of a top-level policy decision, suggesting it may instead have originated at the Pentagon or within the Space Force, the military branch working most closely with SpaceX.
A Pentagon official told the MoS that the request did not come from Hegseth. Another official dismissed the White House denial, saying: “The Pentagon doesn’t do anything unless directed [by Trump].”
A civilian Pentagon source added: “Hegseth would have known he needed a green light from his boss.”
Others disputed that assessment. “This is the sort of thing that does not normally rise to the level of Trump,” said a former senior presidential aide.
Elon Musk has denied approaching Donald Trump with the idea of slowing down Starlink in Ukraine, inhibiting its ability to intercept Russian drone and missile attacks
‘Hegseth probably never told the president he was going to do this, but he probably signed off on doing it.’
An Army officer who works part time at the Pentagon said: ‘I wouldn’t put it past him. … (He) knows he’s in the doghouse (and) needs to up his stock.’
Trump told reporters on Friday: ‘I don’t know if it was anybody, because it wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon.’
Sources approached by the Mail On Sunday dismissed theories that the disruption was a glitch.
‘A cap at one specific speed, 100 miles per hour, looks like a configuration setting, not a random failure,’ said a former Pentagon insider who worked on satellite technology.
‘Oh, hell no, this wasn’t an accident.’
President Zelensky on Saturday revealed ‘evidence’ that the US jammed Ukraine’s military Starlink system.
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Starlink satellites, operated by Mr Musk’s SpaceX, provide high-speed internet to Ukraine’s military which allow it to defend itself against Russian drone and missile attacks.
Ukrainian drones dependent on Starlink flew at speeds of 180km/h (112mph) within the EU but cut out when flying faster than 160km/h (99mph) inside Ukraine, Mr Zelensky told reporters over WhatsApp.
With Starlink, Ukrainian drones can stay connected to operators over long distances and counter Russian drones.
But on Tuesday night, Starlink suddenly and unexpectedly restricted the speed at which drones could fly while maintaining internet connection.
Connectivity had been restored by Wednesday evening, but Mr Zelensky said that there were still problems with it today, according to The Times.
An artilleryman of the Special Rifle Police Battalion of Zaporizhzhia region sets up Starlink satellite internet system
The Ukrainian military had been forced to suspend operations because of the speed restrictions and Mr Zelensky said that the country’s air defences were being undermined.
Some 15 critical power generation and transmission facilities were targeted on Friday night.
More than 320 ‘shahed’ drones, as well as cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and munitions were fired from Russia overnight, Mr Zelensky said.
It comes amid a deterioration of relations between the Ukrainian and US presidents.
Donald Trump passed an executive order on Friday blocking the sanctions on oil and gas exports which were due to take effect tomorrow, a move the Kremlin hailed as ‘historic’.
The order was made just one week after making a deal with Putin to stock the US with over 300,000 tons of diesel fuel.
Mr Zelensky criticised the move in social media posts on Saturday. He said: ‘The decision to undo all of this, to block all of it, seems wrong to me. And it definitely helps only the Russians. It only fuels their satisfaction and their desire to keep killing people. This certainly does not stop the war.’
He added: ‘A US sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin — all of this only encourages him to keep attacking.’
Mr Trump’s administration had earlier warned Kyiv’s officials that if Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries were not halted Washington would retaliate by shutting off some of its support for Ukraine.
Mr Trump also suggested Mr Zelensky should be replaced as Ukrainian president, claiming he is ‘more difficult to deal with than Putin’.
Donald Trump on Friday denied slowing down internet speeds over Ukraine
Mr Trump has also refused to blame Putin for starting the Ukraine war – putting him at loggerheads with Britain and other allies over the conflict.
When asked whether he had forgotten that it was the Russian leader who started the war, Mr Trump did not respond directly and implied it was not straightforward.
He said: ‘I know the details, OK, and at some point I’ll release the details.
‘But I don’t care anything except for one. I want that war ended.’
And while the US-Ukraine relationship frays, UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has announced that Britain will join Germany and France in a major military exercise in Poland next month.
Speaking in Washington DC, Mr Streeting said: ‘Ukraine is the front line for freedom everywhere, and it’s absolutely vital that they prevail against Putin’s aggression.
‘We’re planning for the peace and freedom we want to see through our leadership of the coalition of the willing.’
The drill is aimed at ensuring Nato forces are ready to provide Ukraine with security guarantees once the war is over.
With 1,500 troops taking part, the exercise will simulate moving troops and supplies, such as food and fuel, and was agreed at a coalition of the willing summit in July.
Meanwhile, Russia’s bombardment of Ukraine continues, with Kyiv reporting further strikes on Friday and this morning, wounding civilians, damaging homes and disrupting power supplies.
Russia has regularly targeted Ukraine’s energy grid in the lead-up to winter in an effort to ‘weaponise’ freezing temperatures, and officials in Kyiv have warned Moscow is stockpiling missiles for more attacks over the coming months.
