SpaceX investor Ross Gerber sharply criticized Elon Musk over restrictions on Starlink satellite communications in Ukraine. According to Gerber, such decisions not only harm Ukrainian troops but also raise serious questions about the reliability of the company’s technology for national security purposes.
Ross Gerber, CEO of asset management firm Gerber Kawasaki and a SpaceX shareholder, criticized the decision to restrict the use of Starlink military satellite communications in Ukraine. During an appearance on CNN, he said Elon Musk’s actions disgusted him and described the restrictions as strategically disastrous.
“Elon Musk disgusts me. I think these decisions were strategically terrible and, from a humanitarian perspective, simply awful,” Gerber said.
The investor emphasized that such decisions undermine trust in Starlink and give other countries reason to question whether they should rely on SpaceX satellite technology for national security purposes.
“And that Starlink is unreliable for anyone’s national security except Trump’s,” Gerber told CNN journalist Jim Sciutto.
The video of the interview was also shared on X.
On October 13, 2026, Ukrainian officials reported that SpaceX’s military satellite communications system, which operates using Starlink technology, had stopped providing service to terminals moving at speeds of 160 km/h or higher.
According to media reports, these restrictions disrupted Ukrainian military operations in several areas. In particular, the problems affected military communications, strike capabilities, and air defense systems used to intercept Russian drones.
The restrictions concern SpaceX’s military satellite technology division, designed to meet the Pentagon’s defense and intelligence needs. Unlike the commercial Starlink service, the military system is developed specifically for military organizations and relies on SpaceX’s satellite infrastructure, which includes more than 10,000 spacecraft in low Earth orbit.
SpaceX maintains that the military system is not intended for offensive operations. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities insist that they do not use this satellite communications network to carry out strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Reports of restrictions on military Starlink operations sparked widespread criticism and controversy over who was responsible for the decision. The situation escalated amid growing pressure from US President Donald Trump on Ukraine over its strikes against Russian oil refineries.
Elon Musk insists that decisions regarding restrictions on the military satellite communications system fall under the authority of the Pentagon and the White House. However, Donald Trump denies any involvement in imposing these restrictions.
On October 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NBC News that the Ukrainian government and military leadership believe the order came from US authorities. According to Zelenskyy, it was the US government that instructed SpaceX to limit the satellite system’s operating speed, while the company handled the technical implementation.
However, The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, reported a different version of events. According to the newspaper, Elon Musk personally ordered the slowdown of military satellite communications and discussed his decision with Donald Trump shortly after the restrictions became public.
On October 21, Zelenskyy said in an interview with Fox News that the satellite communications system had still not been restored to full operating speed. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured the Ukrainian president that the restrictions would be lifted.
The question of who actually initiated the restrictions on military satellite communications therefore remains unresolved. Musk places responsibility on US authorities, Trump denies any involvement, and journalistic sources point to the possible personal involvement of the SpaceX chief.
The controversy surrounding Starlink has now moved beyond a dispute over technical restrictions. Criticism from a SpaceX investor reflects growing concerns about the reliability of the company’s satellite systems, which are essential for military operations. For Ukraine, the immediate priority remains restoring full satellite communications capabilities, although no specific timeline for lifting the restrictions has been announced.
