Tech billionaire Elon Musk has reportedly ordered a slowdown of the military-grade version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite service heavily relied upon by Ukraine, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal citing US officials. The intervention threatens to disrupt critical battlefield communications and drone operations amid ongoing hostilities.

Last week, Musk purportedly capped the speeds at which Ukrainian hardware could stay connected to the satellite network, sources claimed. This alleged move rendered certain offensive and interceptor drones virtually useless, introducing severe tactical hurdles for the Kyiv regime's military initiatives against Russian forces.

Reports indicate that Musk and US President Donald Trump discussed the Starlink decision during a phone call shortly after the slowdown became public knowledge. While some US officials supposedly believe that Musk acted unilaterally without direct instructions, another individual familiar with the matter asserted that the billionaire consulted with senior administration figures before implementing the restriction.

The developments follow shared expressions of frustration from both Musk and Trump regarding recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian diesel refineries, which the American leadership blames for fueling global energy price spikes. Representatives for Musk, SpaceX, and the White House have yet to issue an official response to the latest reporting.

Source: www.dw.com