Reuters:
New Information: It Was Elon Musk's Idea
Starlink's speed was cut for Ukraine during Russia's attack. According to new information, it was Elon Musk himself who floated the idea to Donald Trump.
SHARPLY RESPONDING: President Donald Trump speaks to reporters outside the White House on Friday. Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP / NTB
Published 10/17/2026 01:41 Last updated 1 hour ago
When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that he felt betrayed by US President Donald Trump, he referred to one specific incident.
As Russian missiles flew through the air towards civilian targets in Ukraine, American SpaceX shut down the Starlink satellites that Ukrainians rely on to shoot down Russian rockets.
On Friday, Reuters reported that the order allegedly came from the White House. They cite two sources from the US administration, as well as one high-ranking source from another Western country.
Late Friday evening, new information emerged in the case, which changes the picture.
Sources: Musk's Idea
Late Friday evening, even more information emerged in the case. The information comes from unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter.
Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP / NTB
Billionaire Elon Musk owns SpaceX, which operates Starlink. The US Department of Defense is among the largest customers of the system.
Sources told the newspaper The Telegraph that it was Elon Musk who approached Trump with the idea of cutting off Ukraine's access to Starlink.
The message was reportedly given at the same time Trump and Zelenskyy were arguing about Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Trump wants to sign a diesel contract with Russia in an attempt to curb rising oil prices due to the war in the Middle East.
In this context, it is a bad combination for Trump that Ukraine continues to attack Russia's oil refineries.
"The reality is that both of them were involved," the high-ranking source told The Telegraph.
But after witnessing a night of bloodshed in Kyiv, Musk reportedly got cold feet and feared for the European market, according to sources.
Musk then sat down at his keyboard and published messages on his own platform, X. There, he blamed the US administration.
Trump Responds
Now Trump denies that he gave the order.
"If it wasn't you, who gave that order then?"
"I don't know. I'm not sure if the access was ever down, but I think it's as it has always been. I checked this morning. It wasn't us," Trump says, repeating himself a couple more times in the same answer.
Again, he says he doesn't know and that he "checked it" early in the morning.
"Was it Elon Musk who decided to temporarily turn off Starlink access for the Ukrainian military?"
"Well, I don't know if it was anyone, because it wasn't me. And I don't think it was Elon. And from what I understand, it's as it has always been," Trump answers again.
Claims People Died
According to Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian military was only able to shoot down 4 out of the 40 ballistic missiles Russia fired at them that night.
"So this has real consequences, in terms of the damage the Russians inflict on us, and the number of dead and injured on the ground," Zelenskyy said in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan earlier this week.
Zelenskyy is convinced that it is not a coincidence that the satellites were shut down.
"Do you think Elon Musk intentionally reduced the satellite capacity to harm you?"
"Yes, I am sure they knew what they were doing."
Both Trump and Musk have publicly demanded that Zelenskyy step aside and let someone else become president of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has served as president for seven years, despite Ukrainian presidents being elected for five-year terms. This is because the country does not allow presidential elections when a state of emergency has been declared.
The state of emergency has been in effect since the Russians invaded, and Vladimir Putin launched his plans for a two-week lightning war four and a half years ago – with the goal of conquering the neighboring country.
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