A controversial decision by Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and owner of the Starlink satellite network, was recently revealed by several sources familiar with the Ukrainian war. According to these reports, the billionaire personally ordered the temporary shutdown of Starlink service in a strategic area of Kherson, in southern Ukraine, precisely at the time when Ukrainian forces launched a decisive counteroffensive against Russian troops.
Starlink, the satellite network designed to provide high-speed internet access worldwide, has played a crucial role in Ukrainian military operations since the early months of the conflict. Thanks to this technology, combat units were able to maintain stable communications, even in regions where conventional infrastructure had been destroyed. The interruption of service in Kherson would therefore have had major operational consequences, according to several military analysts.
According to internal documents and testimonies relayed by anonymous Ukrainian officials, the deactivation was reportedly motivated by Musk’s concerns about a possible escalation of the conflict. The billionaire reportedly believed that offensive use of the Starlink network, particularly to guide drones or coordinate strikes in disputed areas, could turn the company into a direct actor in the conflict, and therefore expose it to retaliation or international sanctions.
“I do not want SpaceX to be complicit in an act of war that could potentially destabilize the region and the world,” Elon Musk reportedly said, according to an excerpt reported in the American press. This position, however, raises many questions about the neutrality of operators of critical technologies in times of war.
On the Ukrainian side, the reaction was swift. Several political and military officials expressed frustration, even outrage, at what they saw as harmful interference in a crucial operation for the liberation of the national territory. “Cutting off the connection at this precise moment put lives at risk and weakened our ability to act in a coordinated manner,” said a Defense Ministry adviser on condition of anonymity.
The international community is now questioning the growing influence that private actors like Elon Musk can exert in geopolitical affairs. Starlink is not simply a technology company: in a war context, its infrastructure becomes a strategic tool, the unilateral control of which by an individual can have serious implications.
SpaceX has not yet made any official statement. The company simply states in its terms of use that its services “shall not be used for offensive military purposes without specific authorization.” However, this clause remains open to interpretation, especially in a context as complex as the war in Ukraine.
As the conflict continues, the question of the civilian or military use of space technologies remains at the heart of the debate. Elon Musk’s decision in Kherson could well mark a precedent in the history of contemporary conflicts, where large technology companies, sometimes led by a single voice, find themselves in a position to influence international balances. This new reality raises major ethical, political, and legal issues.
