Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that speed restrictions on Starshield, the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service, had been reimposed, limiting the speed of equipment using it to 161 kilometres per hour and hampering Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian drones.
Zelenskyy said the restrictions had affected Ukrainian military operations for several days across the entire front line and Russian-occupied territories. He said Ukraine’s military had investigated the disruptions and concluded they were systematic, not random technical errors.
The restrictions, which limit the speed at which equipment using Starshield can travel while maintaining satellite connectivity, first appeared in mid-October. On 24 October, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry confirmed that connectivity had been restored with stable connections at speeds exceeding 400 kilometres per hour. Their return less than three weeks later has raised questions about the reliability of access to the network.
"Specifically, systematic speed restrictions are being imposed on Starshield, limiting it to 161 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour)," Zelenskyy wrote. "For us, this primarily means a significant complication in intercepting Russian jet-powered drones." He said some strikes had already got through because interception systems could not reach sufficient speeds.
Responsibility for the initial October restrictions remains disputed. Donald Trump denied ordering the initial slowdown, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration was not responsible. SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk said decisions over Starshield speed restrictions were made by the US military and ultimately the US president.
The renewed restrictions come as Ukraine engages in US-mediated peace negotiations with Russia. Two days of talks in Abu Dhabi this week ended without a breakthrough on key disputes, including Moscow’s demand for territorial concessions.
Ukraine’s agreement with Washington for access to Starshield is set to expire in mid-2027, and officials have warned that negotiations on a new agreement need to begin soon. Ukraine has begun exploring alternative satellite communications, signing a letter of intent with Finnish companies ICEYE and Nokia in October, but for now Ukrainian forces remain heavily dependent on the US-controlled network.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The restrictions weaken Ukraine’s air defence at a critical moment in peace talks, potentially shifting the battlefield balance.
- They highlight Ukraine’s vulnerability to US-controlled infrastructure and the strategic risks of reliance on a single provider.
- Sustained limits could embolden Russian drone attacks and increase Ukrainian casualties.
Background
SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet has been crucial for Ukrainian military communications since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Starshield is its military variant, used for drone operations and battlefield connectivity. The first speed restrictions appeared in mid-October 2026 and were lifted within days after high-level contacts with Washington. The current reinstatement comes as Ukraine faces pressure in US-mediated peace negotiations.
Key Perspectives
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: says the restrictions are systematic, not technical errors, and are allowing Russian drone strikes to get through, causing Ukrainian casualties.
Donald Trump: denied ordering the initial slowdown.
Marco Rubio: said the US administration was not responsible for the restrictions.
Elon Musk: said decisions over Starshield speed restrictions were made by the US military and ultimately the US president.
What to Watch
- Whether the restrictions are lifted again following US-Ukraine discussions.
- The outcome of the Abu Dhabi peace talks and any pressure on Ukraine to make territorial concessions.
- Ukraine’s progress in developing sovereign satellite communications with Finnish partners.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedZelenskyy wrote that systematic speed restrictions were being imposed on Starshield, limiting it to 161 kilometres per hour (100 miles per hour).Euronews: “"Specifically, systematic speed restrictions are being imposed on Starshield, limiting it to 161 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour)," Zelenskyy wrote on X.”
- SupportedZelenskyy said the restrictions significantly complicated interceptions of Russian jet-powered drones.Euronews: “"For us, this primarily means a significant complication in intercepting Russian jet-powered drones," said the Ukrainian president.”
- SupportedZelenskyy said Starshield speed restrictions had been reimposed and were disrupting Ukraine’s drone defences.Euronews: “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that speed restrictions on Starshield, the military version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite service, are back, disrupting Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian drones and allowing some strikes to get through.”
- SupportedZelenskyy warned that renewed limits were allowing some Russian strikes to get through amid difficult peace negotiations.Euronews: “The renewed restrictions come amid difficult US-mediated peace negotiations, with Ukraine under pressure to make territorial concessions to Russia.”
- SupportedThe restrictions limit the travel speed of equipment using Starshield to 161 kilometres per hour, rather than limiting internet connection speed.Euronews: “The restrictions limit how fast drones and other equipment using Starshield can travel while maintaining satellite connectivity, rather than the speed of the internet connection itself.”
- SupportedThe restrictions had affected Ukrainian military operations for several days across the entire front line and Russian-occupied territories.Euronews: “The restrictions have affected Ukrainian military operations for several days across the entire front line and Russian-occupied territories, Zelenskyy said, following briefings from Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara and Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi.”
- SupportedUkraine’s military investigated the disruptions and concluded they were systematic, not random technical errors.Euronews: “He said Ukraine's military had investigated the disruptions and concluded they were not random technical errors but systematic restrictions.”
- SupportedZelenskyy said some strikes had already got through because interception systems could not reach sufficient speeds.Euronews: “"Unfortunately, there have already been strikes that got through because our interception systems cannot reach sufficient speeds and are unable to intercept in time."”
- SupportedConnectivity was restored on 24 October at stable speeds exceeding 400 kilometres per hour, and the renewed restrictions came less than three weeks later.Euronews: “On 24 October, Ukraine's Defence Ministry confirmed that connectivity had been restored, with stable connections at speeds exceeding 400 kilometres per hour. The restrictions were first recorded overnight on 13–14 October”
- SupportedResponsibility for the initial restrictions was disputed: Trump denied ordering the slowdown, Rubio said the administration was not responsible, and Musk said decisions rested with the US military and ultimately the president.Euronews: “Trump denied ordering the slowdown at the time, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration was not responsible. SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk said decisions over Starshield speed restrictions were made by the US military and ultimately the US president”
- SupportedTwo days of talks in Abu Dhabi that week ended without a breakthrough on key disputes, including Moscow’s demand for territorial concessions.Euronews: “Two days of talks in Abu Dhabi this week ended without a breakthrough on the main disputes, including Moscow's demand that Kyiv surrender territory it still controls.”
- SupportedUkraine’s agreement with Washington for access to Starshield was set to expire in mid-2027, and officials warned that negotiations on a new agreement needed to begin soon.Euronews: “The renewed disruptions come as Kyiv seeks to extend its agreement with Washington for access to Starshield, which is set to expire in mid-2027. Ukrainian officials have warned that negotiations on a new agreement need to begin soon”