SpaceX has taken steps to prevent the Ukrainian military from using the Starlink satellite Internet service to control drones in combat operations against Russian forces in the region, SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer

Gwynn Shotwell said

at a press conference in Washington on February 8.

"The Ukrainians used it [Starlink] in a way that ... was not covered by any agreements," Shotwell said, referring to reports that the Ukrainian military used the Starlink service to control drones.

Shotwell declined to specify what steps SpaceX had taken in this regard.

"There are things we can do to limit those possibilities," Shotwell said.

"There are things that we can do and have already done."

Using Starlink to fly the drones is outside of SpaceX's agreement with the Ukrainian government, Shotwell said, adding that the contract is for humanitarian purposes, such as providing broadband Internet access to hospitals, financial institutions and families affected by the Russian invasion.

Ukraine effectively used unmanned aerial vehicles to identify enemy positions, conduct long-range fire and drop bombs.