Ukrainian defense technology adviser Serhii Beskrestnov reported that satellite-connected hardware traveling above 100 mph (160 km/h) lost its connection from October 13 to 14. Some units reported disruptions at lower speeds: Ukraine's 7th Rapid Reaction Corps said connections dropped for 10 to 20 seconds at 110 to 120 km/h, and activist Serhii Sternenko, citing military reports, claimed drops at speeds as low as 60 to 70 km/h. The restriction applied to Starshield, the government-focused version of the SpaceX satellite network, Beskrestnov said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio contested whether Ukraine currently has access to Starshield, calling the request 'under conversation.'
Ukraine uses domestically built interceptor drones to hunt Russia's Shahed attack drones, which can fly as fast as 370 km/h (230 mph). Ukrainian sources said terminals need to work at speeds of at least 450 km/h to counter them. 'The maximum speed today is 161 km/h; after exceeding it, Starlink shuts down and we lose the drone,' Zelenskyy said on October 17. He noted that tests at 180 km/h inside the European Union showed no connection loss.
Poland's foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, criticized Musk on X, asking if he was 'playing politics' with the service. Poland has paid for tens of thousands of terminals. Bipartisan condemnation came from US senators Thom Tillis and Jeanne Shaheen, with Tillis calling for a Pentagon inspector general investigation.
Musk disavowed responsibility, posting that Starshield decisions rest with the US military and president. Two US officials and a Western official told Reuters the order came from inside the White House. Separately, the Telegraph reported that Musk proposed the caps to Trump, who approved them. Rubio called such reports 'categorically false,' and Trump said, 'It wasn't me, and I don't think it was Elon.'
Zelenskyy said Ukraine believes the throttling was 'a message from the American government to limit the speed.' The incident follows a series of administration moves that have eased pressure on Russia, including a new license allowing Russian diesel imports and an executive order waiving sanctions from a law signed just a month earlier.