Ukraine reports Starlink speed limits disrupt drone operations

Ukrainian military units experienced disrupted drone control due to unexplained Starlink connectivity issues linked to speed limits on moving terminals. The 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Ukrainian air assault forces said it began noticing Starlink connectivity problems caused by data transfer speed limits overnight. The changes directly affected drones that use the service for in-flight control. An army unit fighting in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region was forced to cancel some planned operations on Wednesday.

Defense technology advisor Serhii Beskrestnov said SpaceX introduced speed limits on the operation of its Starlink satellite internet terminals overnight. He stated the restrictions were specifically put on the military-grade Starshield variant for speeds above 100 mph. Ukraine’s armed forces learned about the limitations from customer support after filing a complaint. They were not warned in advance. Beskrestnov said, "Our defense forces were not given notice of this limit, and this has resulted in the disruption of a number of missions."

Ukraine seeks clarification from US government and SpaceX

Kyiv has contacted both the U.S. government and SpaceX for an explanation about the rationale for the new restrictions but has yet to receive a response. Ukrainian officials accused SpaceX of throttling a technology essential to their battlefield communications. The technology is also key for Ukraine’s aerial defenses, as it is used in interceptors that defend against Russian Shahed jets. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's former digital transformation minister, said Starlink was partially restored by Wednesday evening, but a spokesperson for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that the limitations remained in place late Wednesday.

Elon Musk confirms US government control over Starshield

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government. He claimed on social media that the United States government and military control all Starshield speeds. Musk said, "Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately POTUS." He referred to President Trump when mentioning POTUS. Musk did not confirm or deny whether there are specific restrictions on Starshield service. His statement aligns with earlier comments that Starshield is owned by the U.S. government and not under SpaceX control.

Ukrainian officials warn of operational and humanitarian impact

Ukrainian leaders say the Starlink disruptions hinder defense missions and risk civilian lives. President Volodymyr Zelensky, appearing on 'Piers Morgan Uncensored' on Wednesday, said Ukraine is asking for the Starlink service to be switched on and hopes it is a mistake. He stated that people will die if attacks continue and Starlink does not work. Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires to the U.S., Denys Sienik, said the technology helps save the lives of civilians and prevent more destruction. The concerns come as Ukraine reels from intense Russian ballistic missile attacks this week. Zelensky said Ukraine did not receive a warning from its partners regarding those launches.

European alternatives noted but not confirmed as backup

French satellite operator Eutelsat provides services to Ukraine including the OneWeb Low-Earth Orbit network. Eutelsat is the only European operator of a fully operational global LEO constellation. The company stated it is committed to resilient services and continues to provide connectivity in Ukraine through its LEO and GEO networks. It did not elaborate on whether OneWeb can fill in if Starlink is disrupted or turned off. Ukrainian defense forces continue to report Starlink connectivity problems affecting drone control and mission execution, with no official response from SpaceX or the U.S. government.