A new Reuters investigation reveals that during Ukraine’s critical counteroffensive, Elon Musk allegedly instructed SpaceX engineers to disable Starlink satellite internet coverage over parts of Kherson Oblast and Donetsk. At least 100 Starlink terminals reportedly went offline, disrupting drone operations, long-range targeting, and battlefield communications, directly contributing to the failure to encircle Russian positions in Beryslav. Ukrainian military sources told Reuters that the operation stalled as troops lost coordination in real time.
While Musk has publicly denied shutting off the network, calling Starlink “the backbone of the Ukrainian army,” internal sources suggest his decision was driven by strategic fears—specifically concern that Ukraine's military success could provoke a Russian nuclear escalation. SpaceX has declined to confirm specifics of the incident, referring to Musk’s March 2024 statement on X, “Starlink will never turn off its terminals.”
The incident has sparked a broader debate on the power of private tech companies in geopolitical affairs. International officials from the U.S., U.K., and EU have raised concerns over global reliance on privately owned communications infrastructure. For technology stakeholders and users worldwide, the case underlines the urgent need for diverse, sovereign connectivity solutions and caution in depending heavily on platforms controlled by single individuals.
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