Starlink military service faces speed limit in Ukraine, adviser says
Ukraine reports that SpaceX's StarShield service was limited overnight, disrupting drone missions, while officials deny any direct order from the White House.
Ukrainian forces said an overnight change to SpaceX's StarShield, the military-grade version of the Starlink satellite communications system, imposed a speed limit of about 160 km/h on moving terminals, interrupting several drone operations. Adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on military technology Serhiy Beskrestnov, known as "Flash," said the limitation was introduced without prior warning, causing mission disruptions.
"Our defence forces did not receive a warning about this limitation and this led to the disruption of several missions," Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram.
Volunteer Serhiy Sternenko suggested the restriction might have been made at the request of the administration of President Donald Trump, though no independent evidence confirms a White House directive. The reason for the speed limit remains unclear.
The incident has raised concerns that access to critical American satellite communications could become a leverage point over Kyiv, adding to reports of U.S. threats to curb intelligence sharing if Ukraine continues strikes on Russian oil facilities. The Trump administration has denied suspending intelligence cooperation, and Ukrainian officials say collaboration continues.
The timing coincides with public criticism of Zelenskyy by SpaceX owner Elon Musk, who posted on X that "Zelenskyy has gone too far" after a White House video featured Trump denouncing Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy sites. Relations between Washington and Kyiv have strained following Trump’s agreement with Moscow to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports and his demand that Ukraine halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
Zelenskyy has appealed to the United States for tougher sanctions on Russia and additional Patriot missile interceptors, emphasizing Ukraine’s reliance on American intelligence, military technology and air-defence support amid ongoing tensions.