Who Authorized Satellite Restrictions? Trump and Musk Pass the Buck While the Culprit is Still at Work

Yiannis Damellos and Mars Strangelove Jr. on Duty

October 16, 2025

While Trump and Musk kick the can down the road, Ukraine is still seeking the restoration of 

full military capability

The responsibility for restricting Ukraine's satellite communications is being passed between Washington and SpaceX, while the identity of the person who authorised the decision remains undisclosed.

What we know so far

• On Wednesday, Elon Musk said that Starshield, the military-grade satellite system used by Ukraine, is owned and controlled by the U.S. government. Any limits on its speed or usage, he wrote, are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately the president.
• On Thursday, Reuters reported that the order to slow the service came from inside the White House, citing two U.S. officials and a Western official briefed on the matter. The sources did not identify who issued the order.
• On Friday, President Donald Trump denied responsibility.

“Well, I don't know if it was anybody, because it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. “And from what I understand, it's the same as it's always been.”

• But the explanations have not resolved the central question: if the restriction was imposed, who authorised it?

Bypassing the Hot Potato

So, what's going on here? Reporters asked Trump directly who was responsible for pausing access for the Ukrainian military. Trump denied ordering the restriction and said he did not think Musk was responsible. His answer did not identify an alternative decision-maker or explain the reported order from inside the White House. Moreover, his remarks suggested that he disputed the premise that anyone had deliberately changed the service. Saying it was “the same as it's always been” implied that no new restriction had been imposed. But he did not explain how that account fits the reporting by Reuters or the Ukrainian military's experience of disrupted connectivity. Same old Trump, 

Musk, on the other hand, did not explicitly accuse Trump of personally issuing the order, and did not reveal who made the specific decision but he placed ultimate authority within the U.S. government and Trump. Now, why would he do such a thing if he could so easily avoid it? Why would he point the finger to the government? 

Reuters had no problems showing the White House, citing three officials familiar with the matter; yet, their accounts did not identify the person who initiated the restriction or the official who implemented it. And the White House has not publicly provided a detailed explanation that resolves the discrepancy with Trump's denial.

Ultimately, this situation goes beyond a conflict between Trump and Musk. The real issue at hand is why Ukraine has not yet regained its full military capabilities. Given the circumstances and the turmoil, there should be a sense of urgency. But there isn't. Although the initial connectivity outages were resolved, speed limitations still remain. These restrictions particularly impact fast-moving interceptor drones used to counter Russian attacks. And Ukraine has stated that it is negotiating with SpaceX and the U.S. government to restore the previous operating conditions. What are the negotiations focused on? Are they demanding more concessions? Is it about the data centers? Or sparing Russian diesel depots? And at the end of the day, is Washington willing to help? Will Washington restore unrestricted service? If not, why not? These questions remain unanswered, and there has been no public commitment to restoring the previous capabilities. The administration has not explained why the restrictions were imposed or what conditions would warrant maintaining them.  Washington owes Ukraine and its European partners some clear answers.