Musk Ordered Starlink Shutdown During Key Ukrainian Counteroffensive In 2022
During Ukraine’s critical counteroffensive to liberate occupied territory from Russian forces in late September 2022, Elon Musk issued an order to cut Starlink satellite coverage in regions including Kherson, according to a Reuters investigation, The Gaze reports.
The shutdown reportedly disrupted Ukrainian military operations and delayed an effort to encircle Russian troops. Ukrainian soldiers faced communications blackouts, drones lost connectivity, and long-range artillery units struggled to target Russian positions.
“We have to do this,” said Michael Nicolls, a Starlink engineer, as he relayed the order to deactivate at least 100 Starlink terminals, according to one of the three sources cited in the report.
The move was the first known instance of Musk directly cutting satellite service over a battlefield. Some Ukrainian military officials said the decision led to a failed encirclement attempt near the town of Beryslav, east of Kherson. Although Ukraine ultimately reclaimed Kherson and surrounding areas, the disruption significantly impacted battlefield operations at the time.
Musk and Starlink staff did not respond to detailed questions from reporters. A SpaceX spokesperson claimed the report was “inaccurate” but offered no specifics. Starlink service in Ukraine remains active, and the system continues to be used by Ukrainian forces, with over 50,000 terminals reportedly in the country as of April 2025.
U.S. officials have long viewed Starlink as critical infrastructure. However, Musk’s unilateral control over the system has raised alarms among lawmakers and military leaders. “Elon Musk’s current global dominance exemplifies the dangers of concentrated power in unregulated domains,” said Martha Lane Fox, a British lawmaker and former Twitter board member.
Read more on The Gaze: Starlink Outage Disrupts Ukrainian Military Communications for 2.5 Hours Overnight