Elon Musk reportedly ordered the Starlink slowdown that hampered Ukraine's drones, after he publicly blamed Trump for it

On 14 October Elon Musk capped Starshield speeds so that anything flying faster than 100mph could not connect, according to US officials. The cap left Ukraine's offensive and interceptor drones ineffective and caused failed combat missions. It struck while Russia was hitting Ukrainian power plants, breaking an energy ceasefire brokered by President Donald Trump. Volodymyr Zelensky warned 'people will die'.

Musk had posted that any limits on the military system were 'decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS'.

Accounts differ on whether Musk acted alone or consulted Trump and senior officials beforehand.

Trump insisted: 'I didn't do that… I don't even think it was slowed down.'