La desaceleración de la red Starshield en Ucrania fue ordenada por Elon Musk

The United States has reportedly imposed restrictions on the military-grade satellite communication system Starshield, which Ukrainian forces rely on for drone operations and air defense coordination. According to three unnamed officials at the U.S. Defense Department, the decision came from the White House, though no specific individual within the administration was identified as responsible. The restriction limits the speed at which Ukrainian equipment can connect to the Starshield network, effectively reducing its functionality during high-speed maneuvers. This limitation has impacted the performance of Ukrainian drones, particularly in scenarios requiring rapid movement to intercept Russian unmanned aerial vehicles or evade enemy defenses. The issue emerged after Ukrainian officials confirmed that military receivers for Starshield had stopped functioning when installed on fast-moving drones. While the system currently works at speeds up to 160 kilometers per hour, this falls far below the capabilities of the latest Russian drones, such as the Geran-5, which are believed to operate at speeds exceeding 800 km/h. A spokesperson from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense told Reuters that the system now functions while moving, but only at reduced speeds. According to two American and one Western official, the request to slow down Starshield’s operation for Ukraine was submitted to the leadership of the U.S. Department of Defense. However, these officials did not clarify who in the White House made the decision or who was tasked with implementing it. Starshield is the military version of the Starlink satellite internet service operated by SpaceX. The restrictions were introduced following pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who demanded that Kyiv cease attacks on Russian oil refineries. Trump seeks to shift blame for rising energy prices linked to the war in Iran, which he began in collaboration with Israel, onto Ukraine. His concern centers around the potential negative impact of high energy costs on Republican prospects in November congressional elections. Democrats, meanwhile, hold majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. A senior U.S. official denied that the president ever issued such a demand. The White House did not respond to Reuters' inquiry about whether other representatives of the administration might have made the request. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, emphasized on social media platform X that Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government. He stated that decisions regarding speed limitations or usage are made by the U.S. military or the president. Neither SpaceX, the Pentagon, nor the Ukrainian embassy in Washington responded to Reuters' questions. Tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine escalated after a meeting involving representatives from the U.S., Ukraine, Europe, and the World Bank in Miami on October 9. According to a source familiar with the discussions, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff sharply criticized Ukraine for continuing attacks on Russian oil refineries despite repeated U.S. demands to halt them. American officials defended the decision by the U.S. government to conclude an agreement with Russia for the supply of over 2.25 million barrels of diesel fuel to the American and global market. The White House hopes this deal will increase Moscow's willingness to engage in peace talks. Some members of Congress criticized the agreement, arguing it would provide Russia resources to continue the war without making concessions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the U.S. decision regarding diesel fuel as “weak.” Trump called for early elections in Ukraine and the replacement of Zelensky. American officials reportedly threatened to suspend intelligence sharing on Russian missile attacks, which Ukraine uses for its defense. Trump affirmed that Washington continues to provide this information to Kyiv. Ukrainian representatives attempted to obtain explanations from the White House, the State Department, and the Pentagon regarding the restrictions on Starshield. A senior Ukrainian official stated that the decision was made by the White House. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk ordered the slowdown of Starshield services in Ukraine. The newspaper cited unnamed U.S. officials and informed sources, stating that Musk limited the speed at which Ukrainian equipment could connect to the system, rendering some of their drones unusable. Musk claimed that the U.S. government, not his company SpaceX, is responsible for such decisions. He noted that the U.S. military and the president make decisions regarding speed limitations or usage. Trump denied involvement in the decision, asserting that the president does not control the private company. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington was unaware of the slowdown. “The president had nothing to do with the decisions made by Starlink and Starshield or Mr. Musk,” he said. “It’s a private company. The president doesn’t run it and can't tell him what to do.” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Pentagon did not order any changes to Starshield. “From our perspective, nothing has changed. We haven’t given any orders or anything like that,” he said. Relations between Washington and Kyiv have become increasingly tense in recent days. Trump has called for the replacement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he criticizes for the agreement with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to lift sanctions in exchange for the delivery of diesel fuel. According to reports, Musk and Trump were angry about Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, which Trump links to high energy prices. Sources indicated that Musk and Trump discussed the slowdown after it became public, with one source claiming they had already discussed it before implementation. The situation has raised additional questions in Kyiv and caused confusion within the U.S. administration regarding who made the decision. The White House has initiated an informal investigation into the case.