Elon Musk has alleged that a cyber attack on his social media platform X was launched from “IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area,” marking the latest challenge for the billionaire since joining the Trump administration. The claim, made in an interview with Fox Business, lacked supporting evidence, and Musk did not directly attribute the attack to state actors.
Musk initially took to X on Monday, stating that “either a large, coordinated group and/or a country” was responsible for the outage, which caused widespread disruptions across the U.S. and beyond. The platform, formerly known as Twitter, has experienced multiple service disruptions since Musk’s acquisition in 2022, when he laid off 80% of its workforce. A spokesperson for X declined to comment on the incident.
According to the Financial Times, the attack on X adds to a series of setbacks for Musk’s business empire. Tesla shares plummeted 15% on Monday amid a broader market downturn, making the stock one of the worst performers in the S&P 500 this year. Meanwhile, SpaceX suffered another high-profile failure last week when its next-generation Starship rocket exploded nine minutes after launch. Additionally, several large Starlink contracts have reportedly been canceled due to Musk’s political involvement.
Musk’s role in government has also triggered public backlash. His leadership of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which is aggressively cutting federal contracts and eliminating tens of thousands of jobs, has sparked protests outside Tesla dealerships. In a conversation with former Trump adviser Larry Kudlow on Fox Business, Musk acknowledged that balancing his government role with his business commitments had been “greatly difficult.” However, he affirmed his commitment to reducing government spending, reiterating his ambitious target of $1 trillion in savings.
Musk has also intensified his criticism of U.S. aid to Ukraine, calling the country’s war effort against Russia a “never-ending graft meat grinder.” His stance has placed him at odds with some American politicians, including Senator Mark Kelly, whom he recently labeled a “traitor” for showing support for Ukrainian troops. The billionaire has also renewed calls for the U.S. to withdraw from NATO, further straining international relations.
As of now, no official statements have been released by the Ukrainian government regarding Musk’s allegations. The attack on X, however, raises further questions about cybersecurity threats and the increasing politicization of digital platforms in global conflicts.
