Washington:Elon Musk has clarified that the use of Starlink for offensive drone strikes has never been permitted, as Ukraine continues to depend on satellite communications during its ongoing conflict with Russia.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, Musk stated that Starlink, a civilian commercial service, is not allowed to be used for offensive purposes. He emphasized that Ukraine's military had violated Starlink's terms of use by attempting to employ it for drone strikes. In response, SpaceX, headed by Musk, addressed a loophole last week and differentiated Starlink from Starshield, which is a US government-controlled military-grade system.

Musk stressed the vital role of Starlink in Ukraine's defense, suggesting that turning off the service would cause the front line to collapse. This was presented as a factual statement rather than a threat. In related developments, US President Donald Trump mentioned he held discussions with Musk about the Ukraine situation but did not elaborate further.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara confirmed that connection speeds have improved, reaching over 400 km/h after high-level discussions, which is crucial for military operations. Musk reiterated that SpaceX has been instrumental in supporting Ukraine while criticizing those who push for ongoing conflict without practical resolutions.