Zelensky Says Starshield Speed Limited Again, Hampering Ukraine's Defenses

Detailed summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday Ukrainian military units had recorded significant disruptions to Elon Musk's Starshield satellite communications service for…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday Ukrainian military units had recorded significant disruptions to Elon Musk's Starshield satellite communications service for several days, affecting the entire front line and Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.

In a post on Telegram, Zelensky said systemic restrictions were limiting the speed at which Starshield could be used to 161 kph (100 mph). Starshield is the military version of the Starlink satellite communications service. The disruption comes as the United States makes a renewed push to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

SpaceX, the satellite firm run by Musk, provides the Starshield ⁠military service to the U.S. government.

Zelensky said that as a result of the restrictions, Ukrainian interceptors could not reach sufficient speed to down Russian jet-powered drones, with some hits already occurring.

"This helps Russians kill more Ukrainians and carry out more accurate strikes on Ukraine," he said. He added that Ukraine was trying to clarify the reasons for the restriction with the U.S. side.

The Pentagon and White House did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. SpaceX declined to comment.

In mid-October, Ukrainian officials said SpaceX had abruptly capped the speed of Starlink and Starshield, cutting off drones and other equipment moving faster than about 160 kph (100 mph) amid tensions with the Trump administration over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Service was restored on Oct. 24 and neither Musk nor the U.S. government, which operates Starshield using Starlink technology, took responsibility for imposing the curbs.

Deny Sienik, deputy chief of mission and chargé d’affaires at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, told Reuters there had been no clarification so far from SpaceX or the Pentagon.

Opening of the article, excerpted from The Moscow Times. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.