Last straw - How drone over Kyiv pushed Musk to block Starlink in Russia
Photo: Elon Musk (Getty Images)
Billionaire Elon Musk made the final decision to cut off Starlink satellite internet access for Russia after a drone carrying a terminal struck Kyiv’s government district in late January, according to The Atlantic.
The move was reportedly triggered by an incident in late January when a Russian attack drone entered Kyiv’s government district heading toward the Presidential Office. The drone, identified as a BM-35, crashed into a nearby building, causing minor damage without casualties.
Following the incident, Ukrainian officials directly appealed to Musk for assistance. The episode is believed to have initiated the process that ultimately led to restricting Russian access to Starlink technology.
Musk did not respond to requests for comment, and the exact reasoning behind the decision remains unclear. However, after Ukraine asked SpaceX to limit Russian access, company leadership reportedly instructed staff to prioritize use of the system in ways that support Ukraine.
According to journalist Simon Shuster, the company received clear guidance to use Starlink "without restrictions" in efforts that could help Ukraine. Sources said internal motives were not fully explained but described the move as a political decision by Musk.
The report noted that the stance appears atypical for Musk, who has been linked to US political discussions about ending the war quickly. Despite this, Ukrainian officials have welcomed the decision.
Starlink restrictions for Russia
Disabling so-called grey Starlink terminals used by Russian forces began after a series of drone attacks when reports indicated Russia increasingly relied on Starlink for real-time drone control, including attempts to bypass Ukrainian air defence and electronic warfare systems.
Ukraine’s digital transformation minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, said the defence ministry quickly contacted SpaceX to address the issue. Ukraine also introduced a whitelist system for authorized terminals.
From February 5, 2026, terminals used by Russian forces were switched off, leading to disruptions in coordination, logistics, and the use of unmanned systems. Russia has since sought alternatives to Starlink, but those efforts have faced difficulties.
