Elon Musk has placed responsibility for restrictions affecting Ukraine’s military satellite communications squarely on the United States government, saying that decisions limiting the capabilities of SpaceX’s Starshield network are controlled by American military authorities and ultimately President Donald Trump. His remarks come amid reports that Ukrainian forces have experienced disruptions to satellite connectivity at a critical stage in their war against Russia.

The controversy has intensified tensions between Washington and Kyiv, particularly as Ukrainian forces continue striking Russian oil facilities despite American pressure to scale back attacks on Moscow’s energy infrastructure.

Musk addressed the issue Wednesday, explaining that Starshield, the military-oriented satellite communications system developed by SpaceX, operates under government authority rather than the independent control of his company.

“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,” Musk wrote on X.

His statement drew a distinction between Starshield and the commercial Starlink service. According to Musk, the civilian network is subject to limitations intended to prevent its use in offensive military operations, while Starshield is specifically designed for government and military applications.

The dispute emerged following complaints from Ukrainian officials that satellite terminals had unexpectedly experienced reduced connection speeds, interfering with drone missions and raising concerns about the reliability of communications systems used by Ukrainian forces.

By emphasizing Washington’s authority over Starshield, Musk appeared to distance SpaceX from responsibility for the reported restrictions. The White House, however, has not publicly acknowledged directing any reduction in service. Reports indicate that at least some of the affected connectivity has subsequently been restored.

The satellite controversy has unfolded alongside mounting Ukrainian concerns about the future of American intelligence support, another critical component of Kyiv’s military operations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that his country had received no advance warning from allied intelligence services before five Russian ballistic missiles struck civilian infrastructure. His comments fueled questions about whether intelligence cooperation between Washington and Kyiv had already been affected.

Trump rejected suggestions that the United States had stopped providing intelligence assistance to Ukraine.

“We are helping them, and we are sharing intel,” the president told reporters.

Nevertheless, Ukrainian officials have reportedly been cautioned that intelligence cooperation could face additional limitations, especially if Kyiv persists in targeting Russian energy installations.

The disagreement comes against the backdrop of a separate controversy involving Trump’s arrangement with Russian President Vladimir Putin allowing Russian diesel imports into the United States. Ukrainian officials and some American lawmakers have criticized the move, arguing that renewed energy purchases could provide Moscow with additional revenue to sustain its military campaign.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has made attacks on Russian oil refineries a central element of its strategy to weaken Moscow’s war economy. By damaging refining facilities, Ukrainian commanders hope to disrupt fuel production, complicate military logistics and reduce income flowing to the Russian government.

Kyiv has shown little willingness to abandon those operations, even as its relationship with Washington becomes increasingly strained.

A senior Ukrainian official reportedly told the Financial Times that Ukrainian forces intended to continue setting Russian refineries ablaze, signaling that the government regards the campaign as an essential military tool rather than a bargaining chip to be surrendered under diplomatic pressure.

The determination to continue those strikes was evident Thursday, when Ukrainian drones reportedly attacked an oil refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region, extending a campaign that has become a major source of friction with the United States.

Zelenskyy has also voiced personal frustration over Washington’s shifting approach, describing a sense of betrayal as decisions affecting American military and technological assistance threaten to constrain Ukraine’s ability to wage the war.

The latest developments have prompted renewed scrutiny of whether the Trump administration is seeking to use American-controlled satellite infrastructure and intelligence cooperation as leverage to influence Ukrainian military decisions, particularly regarding attacks on Russian energy targets.

For Ukrainian commanders, access to reliable satellite communications remains essential for coordinating forces, operating drones and responding to Russian attacks. Any restrictions on those capabilities could have immediate consequences for operations on the battlefield, particularly while Kyiv continues its campaign against Russia’s oil industry.

The satellite disruptions were particularly damaging because Ukraine depends on the systems to guide drones traveling at high speeds. Ukrainian officials reported that some terminals initially lost connectivity when moving faster than 80 kilometers per hour, while subsequent restrictions imposed a ceiling of 160 kilometers per hour, approximately 100 miles per hour.

That limit created difficulties for Ukrainian interceptor drones attempting to pursue Russian attack aircraft, some of which travel substantially faster. Serhiy Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian defense adviser, said military personnel had received no advance notification of the changes, resulting in failed missions.

The episode also drew criticism from European officials. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski publicly challenged Musk over the disruptions, questioning whether political considerations were influencing the availability of satellite services purchased by European customers.

Ukrainian officials contacted representatives of the White House, Pentagon and CIA seeking an explanation. American officials reportedly pointed to a possible technical malfunction, while a senior administration official denied that the White House had been responsible for the restrictions.

By Thursday, Ukrainian officials reported that both Starlink and Starshield services had been restored to full capacity, although questions remained about what had caused the interruptions.

The dispute has also attracted criticism from lawmakers in Washington, including Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who expressed concern about restrictions affecting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. Meanwhile, the renewed Ukrainian strike on the Ryazan refinery underscored Kyiv’s determination to continue targeting Russian energy infrastructure despite objections from the Trump administration.