Thom Tillis Confronts Elon Musk Over Starlink Cut to Ukraine: ‘Abetting a Mass Murderer’

AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) asked Elon Musk some very pointed questions on Wednesday over Ukrainian accusations that SpaceX limited Starlink internet services during a Russian missile attack on the country, inhibiting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.

“.@elonmusk please tell me these overnight disruptions to Starlink terminals in Ukraine were unintended – that @SpaceX is doing everything it can to fix a temporary glitch,” Tillis wrote on social media, sharing an NBC News article on the disruptions. The outgoing GOP senator added:

I’m confident this does not reflect a change in SpaceX policy because if so, intentionally degrading Ukraine’s ability to defend itself might be construed as aiding and abetting a mass murderer. Can you confirm that’s not SpaceX’s intent?

Ukrainians simply want to live in peace. They did not ask Putin to bomb their homes, schools and hospitals. They do not want Putin to kidnap and brainwash their children. They are not interested in destroying energy infrastructure – in Ukraine or in Russia. They only want to defend their country and live their lives.

Supporting Ukrainian sovereignty – or at the very least, allowing for it – should not be a gray area for the U.S. government or for American corporations. Can you clarify the SpaceX position?

Musk blamed the U.S. military for the disruption, saying the military version of Starlink, known as Starshield, is what failed and is solely owned and operated by the U.S. government.

“Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” Musk later said in a post on X, adding, ” Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX. Usage of Starlink is limited to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action, as doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial company.”

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky told NBC News on Wednesday that the Starlink disruptions remained in place amid ongoing worries that President Donald Trump is stopping support for the country.

CBS News reported on Wednesday that “the U.S. may have intentionally withheld early warnings this week of Russian strikes on Ukraine,” which killed at least six people.

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