U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the Starshield military communications system is back in operation in Ukraine, but declined to confirm whether he personally contacted Elon Musk to restore the service.
The statement came on Thursday, October 22, following a Wall Street Journal report claiming that Trump had asked Musk, the billionaire founder of SpaceX, to restore Starshield services used by Ukrainian forces.
When journalists asked whether he had contacted Musk, Trump avoided giving a direct answer. “I don't want to comment on it, you know, whether I called or whether somebody else called — doesn't make any difference,” he said.
Starshield is a satellite-based communications system operated by SpaceX and designed for government and military use. Its availability is important to Ukraine’s military communications capabilities amid the ongoing war with Russia.
Musk had previously said that any restrictions on the speed or usage of Starshield systems were decided by the U.S. military and ultimately the president of the United States.
The latest developments highlight the role of satellite technology and private companies in modern warfare, particularly in conflicts where reliable communications are essential for military coordination.
The Wall Street Journal report suggested that Trump intervened to bring the service back, but the president did not confirm whether he had personally spoken to Musk. His remarks also left unanswered further questions about how the restoration was arranged.
Although Trump stated that Starshield was back in Ukraine, the available report did not provide details about the precise scope of the restoration or whether any restrictions remain in place.
The situation underscores the close connection between U.S. government decisions, private space technology and Ukraine’s military communications during the conflict.
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