Former US president Donald Trump has said that Elon Musk has restored Ukraine's access to the Starlink satellite communications network. The assertion comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the role that the privately operated system plays in supporting Ukrainian military and civilian communications.
Musk, who owns the SpaceX company that operates Starlink, has repeatedly denied imposing restrictions on service to Ukraine. His denials have been issued amid public debate over the extent to which commercial satellite services are being used in the conflict and whether their operation should be influenced by private decisions or government requests.
Ukraine has relied on the Starlink network for a range of purposes, including military communications and connectivity in areas where ground infrastructure has been damaged or is unavailable. Any interruption or restoration of service would have operational significance for Ukraine's forces and essential services, according to analysts and officials who have previously discussed the system's importance.
The competing claims from Trump and Musk have not been independently verified by the news agency. The situation highlights tensions around the involvement of private technology providers in conflict zones and the challenges of ensuring reliable communications when networks are controlled by commercial entities.