Musk Blocks Russian Drones from Using Starlink

Ukraine's defense minister just called Elon Musk a "true champion of freedom." The reason? When told that Russian drones equipped with Starlink connectivity were conducting deadly attacks, Musk acted swiftly to cut them off.

When Internet Becomes a Weapon

Mykhailo Fedorov announced that Musk's restrictions have "delivered real results" against Russian drone operations. The timing was critical—these Starlink-equipped drones had been linked to several recent attacks, including one on a passenger train that killed six people.

The drones posed a unique threat. Flying at low altitudes, immune to electronic warfare, and controlled in real-time from distant locations, they were nearly impossible to counter. The Institute for the Study of War warned that since Russia began equipping cheap kamikaze Molniya-2 drones with Starlink, their battlefield efficiency had increased "dramatically."

SpaceX apparently introduced a 75kph speed limit on Starlink terminals moving over Ukraine. Since Russian drones move much faster, operators can no longer control them in real-time. "Looks like the steps we took to stop the unauthorized use of Starlink by Russia have worked," Musk wrote on X.

A Complicated History

Musk's relationship with Ukraine has been anything but straightforward. When Fedorov (then deputy prime minister) asked for help after Russia's February 2022 invasion, Musk enabled Starlink in Ukraine within a day and promised more satellite dishes.

But the honeymoon didn't last. Later that year, Musk denied Ukrainian military access to Starlink in Crimea, where Russia had been stationing military equipment since its 2014 annexation. His justification? Ukraine would have used Starlink access to "sink most of the Russian fleet," making SpaceX "complicit in a major act of war."

Since then, Musk has repeatedly criticized Western support for Ukraine. "It is insane to keep sending so much money to Ukraine with no accountability and no end game," he said. Yet he's also insisted that "no matter how much I disagree with the Ukraine policy, Starlink will never turn off its terminals."

"My Starlink system is the backbone of the Ukrainian army," Musk explained in March. "Their entire front line would collapse if I turned it off."

The New Battlefield Ethics

This incident highlights the complex ethical terrain that private tech companies now navigate in modern warfare. Starlink was designed to provide global internet access, but it's become critical war infrastructure. Ukraine is now implementing a whitelist system—only approved terminals will work, with all unregistered ones disconnected.

Russian war bloggers worry the implications extend beyond drones, as their military uses Starlink for front-line internet access. Meanwhile, Fedorov—recently appointed defense minister at just 35 years old—represents a new generation of warfare thinking. The former digital transformation minister favors data-driven strategies and has vowed to work closely with Silicon Valley companies.

Despite past tensions, Fedorov praised Musk's initial decision to provide access, calling Starlink "critically important for the stability of our state." He's betting that integrating tech partners will make Ukraine's defense system stronger.