Ukrainian forces continue to experience disruptions to Starlink and Starshield satellite communications more than a week after restrictions were first imposed, despite US President Donald Trump’s assertion that service had been restored, officials and experts said Friday. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the restrictions remain in place, as Kyiv announced plans to partner with Finnish firms Nokia and ICEYE to develop an independent satellite communications system that Ukraine would control.
Ukrainian officials and a national security expert said on Friday that SpaceX's Starlink internet system is still being throttled in Ukraine, contradicting President Trump's statements that Elon Musk had lifted the restrictions. Denys Sienik, Ukraine's deputy ambassador to the US, wrote on X: "Every day matters for Ukraine, because every Ukrainian life matters... Unfortunately, as of today, nothing has changed. We continue to wait."
Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Zelenskyy known by his call sign Flash, confirmed on his Telegram channel that the restrictions were in place. "While there are isolated cases where Starlink may operate somewhat beyond the established limits, this is likely a result of SpaceX's algorithms or specific usage conditions, rather than an actual removal of restrictions," Beskrestnov said.
Dmitri Alperovitch, chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator and former CrowdStrike CTO, told CNBC: "They are losing drones. Ability to do mid strike to hit Russian logistics is now limited."
The restrictions, which began on October 14, have limited Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink, to speeds that disconnect drones traveling above about 100 mph (160 kph), disrupting both offensive drone operations and efforts to intercept Russian attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X: "Things have become harder — partly because of the Starlink and Starshield policies and speed limits. But our frontline is still holding."
Responsibility for the restrictions remains disputed. Trump told reporters Friday: "Well, I don't know if it was anybody, but it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon." Vice President JD Vance said in Cincinnati that "fundamentally, Elon Musk runs a private corporation" and it is "completely understandable that he doesn't want to get in the middle of what is a war between two state actors." Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted the administration never ordered any changes, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said "there are terms of service that ultimately need to be complied to" and "Starlink has the option to make those decisions." Musk himself wrote on October 14 that "Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS."
In response, Ukraine is moving to reduce its dependence on Starlink. On Thursday, Ukraine's Defence Ministry signed a letter of intent with Finnish firms Nokia and ICEYE to "explore cooperation in space" and support Ukraine's defense capabilities, particularly in building sovereign satellite communications. ICEYE CEO Rafal Modrzewski said Ukraine needs "secure, sovereign, and high-performance satellite communications systems that it controls." Zelenskyy announced the agreement during Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's visit to Kyiv, calling it "important for our defence and for the resilience of Ukraine."
Meanwhile, Russia launched another overnight barrage against Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US could resume in Abu Dhabi in November, though previous rounds have failed to produce a breakthrough.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The throttling of Starlink directly impacts Ukraine's ability to operate drones and defend against Russian missile strikes, potentially shifting the battlefield balance.
- The episode reveals Ukraine's dangerous dependence on a single private company for critical military communications and exposes the vulnerability of relying on foreign-controlled infrastructure in wartime.
- Ukraine's move to develop sovereign satellite capabilities, while still in early stages, signals a strategic shift that could reshape how countries approach battlefield communications.
Background
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Starlink has been a vital part of Ukraine's military communications, enabling drone operations, artillery targeting, and internet connectivity across the front line. Starshield, the military-grade version, became the backbone of Ukraine's drone warfare as the conflict evolved into a war of attrition dominated by unmanned systems. Tensions between Kyiv and SpaceX have periodically surfaced, with Musk previously refusing to activate Starlink near Crimea in 2022. The latest restrictions began without warning on October 14, 2026, amid deepening disputes between Trump and Zelenskyy over continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and US intelligence-sharing interruptions.
Key Perspectives
[Ukraine and its allies]: Kyiv views the restrictions as a unilateral and unexplained act that undermines its self-defense. Ukrainian officials have called for transparency and restoration of full service, while seeking alternatives to reduce future vulnerability. The partnership with Nokia and ICEYE is a concrete step toward sovereign control.
[The Trump administration]: Officials have offered mixed and contradictory explanations. Trump denies ordering the restrictions but has claimed service is restored. Vance, Rubio, and Hegseth have each distanced the administration from the decision, pointing to SpaceX's autonomy. Musk has shifted responsibility to the US military. The lack of accountability has alarmed both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, with Senator Richard Blumenthal announcing an inquiry.
[SpaceX / Elon Musk]: Musk has framed the issue as a matter of company policy and contract terms, arguing that Starlink is a commercial service that cannot be used for offensive military action. He has put the onus on the US government to direct any changes to Starshield, which he says is government-owned and controlled. Critics note that Musk's personal political influence and commercial control over a critical wartime asset create a conflict of interest that no single individual should hold.
[Critics and skeptics]: The episode highlights the risks of relying on private infrastructure in conflict zones. Democratic and Republican lawmakers have called for investigations into Musk and the throttling. Analysts warn that alternatives to Starlink remain limited and not yet comparable, meaning Ukraine faces an extended period of vulnerability until sovereign systems can be developed.
What to Watch
- Whether the restrictions are eventually lifted or remain in place, and if Trump makes good on his offer to speak to Musk about restoring service.
- Progress on Ukraine's partnership with Nokia and ICEYE: how quickly a sovereign satellite communications system can be developed and fielded.
- The outcome of Senator Blumenthal's inquiry and whether it leads to any regulatory or legislative response regarding private companies' control of critical military communications infrastructure.
- The next round of US-brokered peace talks, expected in Abu Dhabi in November, and how the Starlink dispute affects Ukraine's negotiating position.