Writing on X on Wednesday, the SpaceX chief executive said Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government, and that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately President Donald Trump. Starshield is the military-grade satellite network, while Starlink is meant for civilian or defensive activities, Musk said.
Ukraine had accused SpaceX of imposing new restrictions on the service without warning. Serhii Beskrestnov, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on defense technology, said on Telegram that SpaceX had introduced a speed limit on Starlink terminals in motion, disrupting some missions, and that the same restrictions applied to Starshield. Beskrestnov said Starlink is used to operate Ukraine's interceptor drones, which he described as the most effective solution against Russia's Shahed drones.
The restrictions appear to have been partly lifted. Former Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov thanked Musk after Starlink connectivity at speeds of up to 160 kilometers an hour was restored, but said removing Starshield's speed limit entirely was now critical for Ukraine's defense.
The dispute comes amid tensions between Kyiv and Washington over an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia announced by President Trump. Ukraine has welcomed the deal, subject to Moscow honoring its commitment, while Russian authorities said talks were ongoing. On Monday, Zelenskyy accused Russia of breaching the ceasefire. Trump has also blamed Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities for higher diesel prices.