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submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

Elon Musk ordered a “slowdown” to Starlink in Ukraine that set off a “panic” in the country and “confusion inside” the Trump administration.

The Wall Street Journal dropped a report on Tuesday diving into a disruption in Ukraine’s Starlink-internet service as they continue fighting a war with Russia.

According to U.S. officials and three people familiar with the situation, “Elon Musk ordered the slowdown of a military-grade version of Starlink relied on by Ukraine, a decision that sparked panic in Kyiv and confusion inside the Trump administration.”

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[-] CalemitousVariantK@lemmy.world 31 points 4 days ago

An immigrant working in the defense industry took an action to aid an ally of an enemy the country has current ongoing conflicts with, causing a diplomatic incident.

Let's see those charges!

[-] wampus@lemmy.ca 23 points 4 days ago

All these people talking about treason and accountability for Elon.... he's helping Russia. Russia is America's ally, not Ukraine. Ukraine is a smaller country, one that America wants to loot for minerals/resources once the war ends. Don Trump Jr married a Russian oligarch's asset, had a wedding party paid for by that oligarch. They are more than friends, they are family, in the same way that old 'royal' families settled disputes by marrying their children off.

Why would Elon's actions be considered treasonous/wrong, when he's helping America's friends? If Ukraine wanted to be friends with America, they should've sent busloads of young girls to the white house as tribute, not some war-weary Zelenski guy.

Just to be clear to any American thinking this is satirical -- it's not. America is friendly/helping dictators and fascists all over the place. Your country quite literally declared "Anti-fascists" the enemy. I don't think anyone would be at all surprised, for example, if Trump took a vacation to North Korea's weird 'resort' town, to hang out with Kim Jong.

[-] voxthefox@lemmy.blahaj.zone 78 points 4 days ago

We are beyond the time where we needed to nationalize starlink from that fuck, not that trump would do much better things with it..

[-] Archangel1313@lemmy.ca 59 points 4 days ago

I think we are beyond the time when the rest of the world needs to stop buying weapons systems from the US, altogether. What exactly are you paying for, if there's even the slightest chance they're going to sabotage you in the field?

[-] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 21 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

This was starshield not starlink. Special satellites that are supposed to be owned by the US government and in their control.

If he unilaterally decided to alter starshield behavior, the US government should be losing its shit, and yes thats worthy of rationalizing starshield at least.

Altering starshield would be like the builder of patriot missiles preventing their launch while an incoming ballistic missle is about to hit you.

[-] rayyy@piefed.social 15 points 4 days ago

The blood of hundreds of innocent civilians is on Elon Musk's hands. He is truly a traitor to his country and humanity.

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[-] Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 18 points 3 days ago

The MAGA fucknuts wonder why the EU is abandoning US technology.

[-] tronx4002@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago

Do they? Do they even know about news regarding the EU?

[-] wuffah@lemmy.world 49 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country; attempting to overthrow its government; spying on its military, its diplomats, its officials, or its secret services for a hostile foreign power; or attempting to kill its head of state. A person who commits treason is known in law as a traitor.

The offense of treason exists at both federal and state levels. The federal crime is defined in the Constitution (and is the only crime defined by it) as either levying war against the United States or adhering to its enemies, and carries a sentence of death or imprisonment and fine.

[-] RedGreenBlue@lemmy.zip 16 points 4 days ago

It was just a little treason. Billionares will be billionares, right? Think of his future.

[-] bad1080@piefed.social 11 points 4 days ago

he would just do this in front of the court and get off scot free because "he learned his lesson" sVHd7C12UiknCSO.gif

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[-] bedwyr@piefed.ca 33 points 4 days ago

The administration made the call. Jesus christ, how fucking stupid are we that we believe the administration lies put out that they didn't do this.

First of all, they control starshield, the military version. Second, if musk ordered it, he was told to by the administration, that just made a deal with russia. I shouldn't have to explain that.

Even the left are fucking sheep apparently.

[-] Kushan@lemmy.world 24 points 4 days ago

Musk denied it was him, Trump is trying to shift the blame away from himself. Let them throw each other under the bus.

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[-] DillDough@lemmy.zip 10 points 4 days ago

Musk and the second Trump admin are one in the same, as is the admin and the heritage foundation, as is the admin and Thiel, as is the admin and Putin, as is the admin and Netanyahu.

You're the sheep for differentiating between them all. Yes they all want to be above each other and all else but they still all have the same goals and are all working together against you, everyone and everything else. These people have openly stated that they would gladly destroy the planet as long as it's done by themselves for the greatest creation of capital and control that would ever exist.

[-] Exatron@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago

Can we compromise and put them both on a rocket out of the solar system?

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[-] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 37 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

If this is true, and it wasnt the DoD, how on earth could they keep using starshield.

The whole fucking point of starshield is they own and operate it.

This is breaking like core tenant of what it is.

Such an idiotic move if true.

Edit: like earlier there were reports Musk suggested it to trump or whatever. Still horrible, but at least that kept control within the DoD which would keep the illusion they are in control.

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[-] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 17 points 4 days ago

This fuck should be tried at the Hague.

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[-] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 17 points 4 days ago

I would like it if Ukraine sent a drone into Musk. He is an proven enemy agent.

[-] ElDuderino@lemmus.org 4 points 4 days ago

The Ukrainians punch well above their weight in espionage and sabotage dating back to the Soviet days. This is an existential conflict for them. I would not put it past them to target individuals they consider enemies.

[-] Doomsider@lemmy.world 15 points 4 days ago

Interfering with a nations at war is a serious issue and he should definitely be held accountable. He should be acting as a common carrier. Deciding to turn off or slow access during wartime should absolutely have serious consequences with jail time and fines as well as the possibility of his service getting nationalized.

The fact that he has no fear and thinks he can do whatever he wants when Daddy Putin comes calling is ridiculous.

[-] tacoplease@lemmy.world 28 points 4 days ago

Time to nationalize Starlink if he's gonna be fascist about it.

[-] aramis87@fedia.io 32 points 4 days ago

My feeling is that Putin had people tell Trump that Putin would be grateful (sell cheap diesel that Russia got from Iran, pump up the right-wing botfarms, arrange a shiny gold medal) if Trump got Starlink restricted, now that Ukraine was hitting Russia's dual-use infrastructure so hard. And Trump mentioned it to Musk, and Musk took Starlink down for Ukraine.

So when questions started getting asked, Musk said he didn't order it (because Trump made that call), and Trump said he didn't order it (because he works like a Mafia boss, "be a shame if something happened ..."), and since everything was back-channeled, no one else knows what was going on.

[-] Sgarcnl@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I suppose the success rate must be phenomenal of that russian botnet to warrant the actions they are taking just before midterms. Its either that or they are desperate.

[-] Pratai@piefed.ca 18 points 4 days ago

That piece of shit needs to be drawn and quartered Braveheart-Style.

[-] northendtrooper@lemmy.ca 3 points 4 days ago

Need to bring back Blood Eagles.

[-] rayyy@piefed.social 16 points 4 days ago

Musk denied it. Now we know for certain he is a corrupt liar like all the other criminals in power today.

[-] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 5 points 4 days ago

Always was.

[-] fyzzlefry@retrolemmy.com 6 points 3 days ago

Isn't confusion the default state of the Trump admin?

[-] weps@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

the boss of future warfare

[-] tigermountain@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I cannot believe I'm reading this article. How is this not treason? How is this not giving our enemies aid and comfort? Pulling back the ability of a strategic partner to defend themselves against Russia. If something like this doesn't deserve the strongest pushback and consequences I don't know what does.

  • He's apparently got a new response to the situation. I'd pay close attention to the words he's using and what narrative he's both adhering to and modifying. This is dangerous.
[-] NABDad@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago

We are not actually at war with Russia. That's it. Without that, it can't be treason in the U.S.

If we were at war with Russia...we'll, he has a lot of wealth. I think that also means laws don't apply to him.

[-] Snowclone@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago

Russia's openly sabotaging all NATO members, and NATO is the US's former means of power projection in Europe, WE aren't at war with them, but they have no problem being at war with us.

[-] NABDad@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

True, but as far as the requirements for treason, we would have to be at war with them.

[-] tigermountain@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago

Russia is definitely our enemy.

[-] NABDad@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

No question, but we're not at war.

[-] andysavo@lemmy.today 9 points 4 days ago

How not one person has gotten close enough to land a single punch into this loser's mouth is baffling... that's all he needs. He needs his ass kicked and his phone taken away. That's it. There's no more to this "mystical genius". Take it as that. He's a loser who is getting revenge for his past and unfortunately millions of people are suffering because of it. He doesn't care. Fuck Elon Musk, the barrel-chested gooner.

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[-] HulkSmashBurgers@reddthat.com 3 points 3 days ago

Add it to the list (of things democrats should investigate if they ever gain back power).

[-] finley@lemmy.zip 10 points 4 days ago

These men are only alive because you allow it

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[-] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 4 points 4 days ago

Blockbuster report that will result in no action.

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[-] axus@lemmy.ca 3 points 4 days ago

Elon Shrugged

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this post was submitted on 21 Oct 2026
502 points (99.4% liked)

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