Pentagon denies restricting Ukraine’s Starlink access amid report involving Elon Musk

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon has not ordered any changes to Ukraine's access to a military-grade version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications system amid conflicting accounts of disruptions to the service.

(CNN)- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon has not ordered any changes to Ukraine’s access to a military-grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite communications system amid conflicting accounts of disruptions to the service.

“We haven’t pulled anything back. Nothing’s changed from our view. We haven’t made any directives or anything like that,” Hegseth said Tuesday.

Ukraine relies on the satellite communications technology to coordinate military operations, including launching and defending against Russian drone attacks.

The Trump administration has denied responsibility for any disruption to the military-grade Starshield service.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk previously suggested the White House was responsible for the disruption. However, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Musk himself ordered the slowdown, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

Musk did not address the report during a company earnings call Tuesday.

The dispute comes as Ukraine has also accused the Trump administration of limiting intelligence-sharing about impending Russian attacks.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied those allegations Tuesday, saying President Donald Trump had not directed any changes.

“The president made it very clear he’s ordered no such changes,” Rubio said.

Rubio also spoke by phone Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who later described the conversation on social media as “substantive.”

Zelenskyy also met with U.S. foreign envoy Steve Witkoff on Tuesday.

Speaking in Oslo following that meeting, Zelenskyy indicated that intelligence-sharing between Ukraine and the United States was functioning again.

“We are thankful that intelligence works now. Because we can hear when a ballistic missile is coming. So we are thankful to American side. Now it works. It’s great,” Zelenskyy said.

The conflicting accounts have raised questions about Ukraine’s access to U.S. military communications technology and intelligence as its war with Russia continues.