US President Donald Trump has stated that billionaire Elon Musk has restored full access to the Starlink internet service in Ukraine, reports the BBC.Trump’s announcement follows remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who indicated that full connectivity had not yet been restored to Starshield—the military network based on Musk’s satellite internet system. Musk had previously denied responsibility for the slowdown in connectivity. This issue affected Ukraine’s ability to defend its territory and utilize drones for attacks against Russia. Trump declined to comment on reports that he had contacted Musk to request the restoration of full connectivity, but noted that the main point is that the internet service is back.The US administration previously denied having instructed Musk to restrict access to Starlink in Ukraine. The connectivity issues emerged while Trump was pressuring Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries—actions which, according to Trump, were driving up global fuel prices. Ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for early November, Trump has lifted certain sanctions imposed on Russia and agreed to purchase Russian diesel—a move criticized by both European allies and Ukraine.Ukrainians utilize both the civilian-oriented Starlink and the more secure Starshield, depending on the type of communication required. These networks rely on 10,000 satellites in Earth’s orbit, which are particularly useful for providing connectivity in remote areas and on the battlefield. In modern warfare, the internet is used to effectively operate drones.On the 14th of October, Ukraine reported that it was no longer receiving US intelligence information.Last week, Musk indicated that access to Starshield is controlled by the US government, noting that the system was developed for the Pentagon—implying that the latter is responsible for the restricted access. The White House has repeatedly emphasized that it has not restricted access to internet communications.Meanwhile, Politico reports that Kevin Cramer, a Republican Senator from North Dakota, expressed concerns on the 22nd of October regarding Musk’s influence on national security matters. He remarked that “too many eggs have been put in one company’s basket” when it comes to satellite networks. The Senator added that he is concerned about the fact that the power to safeguard the space domain—a capability vital to the United States—has been concentrated in the hands of a single individual and a single company.Cramer told reporters that he wants Congress and the Pentagon to invest significant resources to ensure robust competition in both the manufacturing and launching of satellites. He expressed concern over the entrenchment of a single supplier in the space sector, noting that recent events suggest the reasons for concern go beyond mere costs.Following a report by The Wall Street Journal alleging that Musk ordered a reduction in the speed of Starlink satellite internet connections, he has come under intense scrutiny in recent days, with Democrats calling for an investigation into the billionaire’s actions next year. Cramer told reporters he is not certain whether Musk actually ordered the reduction in internet speeds, adding that the issue of accountability among various individuals has, to some extent, been overlooked. The Senator pointed out that Starlink internet speeds could have been reduced without Musk’s knowledge, regardless of his stance on any specific decision. Cramer stated that there may have been a misunderstanding between Musk’s company and the US government regarding the extent to which Ukraine relies on Starlink internet, but added that it is clear that the use of technologies such as Starshield must remain solely at the discretion of the US government.