Ukraine Starlink speed restrictions in effect again, Zelenskyy says
KYIV – Limitations affecting Starshield, the military version of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system, appear to be back in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday.
“Unfortunately, our units have been recording significant disruptions to Starshield’s operations over the territory of Ukraine for several days now – along the entire front line and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in a statement.
About a month ago, Ukraine reported a drop in connectivity for objects traveling faster than 161 km/h, which prevented its defensive systems, especially its interceptors, from working properly. The restriction was lifted on Oct. 24. In his statement, Zelenskyy said the disruptions were not due to a malfunction, but once again to a systematic speed restriction.
“For us, this primarily means a significant complication in intercepting Russian jet-powered drones,” Zelenskyy said.
The latest restrictions have already allowed several Russian drones to get through Ukrainian air defense and kill more Ukrainians, he added.
"Connectivity issues have resurfaced," said Serhii Bezkrestnov, an advisor to Zelenskyy on defense technology, "specifically regarding communication with helicopters pursuing 'Shahed' drones, as well as with jet interceptors tasked with shooting down jet-powered 'Shaheds'."
A European official with first-hand knowledge of the situation, who was granted anonymity to discuss the matter freely, said the Starshield limits were first noticed three days ago, when negotiations between the U.S. and Russia began in Abu Dhabi. Ukrainian officials believe this is not a coincidence, but a pressure tactic, they added.
The U.S. Congress bipartisan Ukraine Caucus on Thursday demanded in a statement "a full accounting from the Trump Administration and SpaceX on how and why this occurred and immediate action to restore full access to Starshield."
U.S. President Donald Trump said last Sunday that he couldn't tell who slowed down Starlink for Ukraine for much of October, and wasn't even sure it had been throttled.
"It wasn't me …. The system is a very good system. And it was perhaps turned down. I don't even know. It hasn't been proven to me that it was turned down,” Trump said on 60 Minutes.
“There's a lot of lies going on with that war. But I know this, that when I heard about it, it went back up," Trump added.
Kyiv is seeking urgent talks to renew its contract with Starshield, which is ending in mid-2027, a Ukrainian official told reporters last week.
The U.S. Department of Defense and SpaceX, Starshield's parent company, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
