
EU Commission describes SpaceX’s throttling of satellite internet as “extremely worrying”
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Starlink is a SpaceX satellite network used in Ukraine for military and civil communications. The EU is developing its own, independent satellite network with IRIS2.
Brussels. The EU has called reports of SpaceX founder Elon Musk's order to throttle Ukraine's Starlink satellite internet "extremely worrying" and called for an immediate change of course. “SpaceX must urgently restore full services to Ukraine because Ukraine needs these critical connections,” a spokesman for the Ursula von der Leyen-led EU Commission said in Brussels. Ukraine needs satellite internet to keep its soldiers connected, protect its citizens and control the drones it needs to defend its territory.
The spokesman added that the war in Ukraine shows how much Europe's security depends on space. That is why, among other things, the EU is actively working on the development and construction of a new satellite network called IRIS2. The constellation will consist of more than 300 satellites and will provide the best possible secure satellite connections for both civil and military purposes. “We will of course fully involve Ukraine in this,” emphasized the spokesman.
The Wall Street Journal and CBS News had previously reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Musk was behind the throttling of the Starlink satellite internet for Ukraine. Musk had several conversations with government officials leading up to the decision, CBS News reported. He therefore wanted to gain clarity about where President Donald Trump stands on this matter. According to the Wall Street Journal, Musk and Trump spoke to each other directly after the throttling. The Starlink satellite service is operated by SpaceX. Musk is the company's founder, boss and controlling major shareholder.
On Friday at the EU summit in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj explained about the restrictions that mobile Starlink terminals no longer establish a connection when used in drones above a certain speed. As a result, Ukrainian interceptor drones could no longer combat certain Russian drones and drones could no longer be used to attack military targets as usual.

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