Elon Musk said Saturday that SpaceX had restricted Starlink speeds in Ukraine after determining the country's military had used the civilian satellite service for offensive drone strikes.

In posts on X, Musk wrote that using Starlink "for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be." He added that Ukraine's military "violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week."

The restrictions, which lasted more than a week, disrupted Ukrainian drone operations and front-line communications before service speeds returned to normal on Saturday morning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the restoration and noted improved capabilities for logistics and defense against Russian Shahed drones.

Musk distinguished Starlink from Starshield, the military-grade system controlled by the U.S. government. He said decisions on the latter rest with Washington. Musk also emphasized Starlink's ongoing importance, stating that the Ukrainian front line would collapse immediately without it and that the service had proven critical since Russia's 2022 invasion.

Ukrainian officials disputed Musk's account. Presidential defense technology adviser Serhii Beskrestnov said Starlink terminals in Ukraine have been capped at 70-90 km/h since February 2026 and do not function over Russian territory, making offensive deep strikes impossible on the civilian network.

The episode adds to recent tensions in U.S.-Ukraine relations. Musk reiterated that SpaceX has provided more support to Ukraine's defense than any other private company.