Ukraine says Starshield is being limited again, hampering its defenses against Russia
Soldiers from a separate task rifle battalion of the National Police of Ukraine set up a Starlink satellite communication terminal at a combat position in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on October 16, 2026. Dmytro Smolienko / NurPhoto via GettyShareAdd NBC News to GoogleNov. 12, 2026, 4:53 AM ESTBy Henry AustinThe Ukrainian military has experienced a renewed wave of “significant disruptions” to the Starshield satellite internet service, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday, hampering its ability to defend against Russia.
Units have for several days reported speed restrictions affecting the entire front line and Russian-occupied parts of the country, Zelenskyy said in a social media post. A limit of 100 miles per hour is “being imposed on Starshield,” Zelenskyy said of the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink communications service.
“These are not random errors but systematic speed restrictions,” Zelenskyy said. “For us, this primarily means a significant complication in intercepting Russian jet-powered drones.”
The system normally runs at a stable speed exceeding around 250 miles per hour.
“Unfortunately, there have already been strikes that got through because our interception systems cannot reach sufficient speeds and are unable to intercept in time,” he said, adding that Ukraine was trying to clarify the reasons for the restriction with the U.S. side.
The aftermath of a residential building damaged by a Russian air attack on Kyiv, on Thursday.Vladyslav Musiienko / AFP via GettyUkraine first raised the alarm last month about speed limits being imposed on Starshield, which is crucial to its battlefield operations and air defenses.
Starlink owner Elon Musk put the responsibility for the restrictions on Trump, who has been trying to pressure Kyiv to make concessions to end the war. The U.S. government said that any such decision could only have been taken by Musk.
Trump denied being involved in the decision concerning the slowdown.
The renewed issues came as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a day after trilateral talks aimed at ending the war in Abu Dhabi.
Henry AustinHenry Austin is a senior editor for NBC News Digital based in London.
