Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has again raised concerns over disruptions to Starshield, the military-grade satellite communication service developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX as part of its Starlink technology.
Citing briefings from defence minister Yevhenii Khmara and Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, he said the service was being subjected to systematic speed restrictions, limiting its operation to 161 kmph. However, on October 24, Ukraine’s defence ministry confirmed that the restrictions had been lifted, with monitoring systems recording stable Starlink and Starshield connectivity at speeds exceeding 400 kmph. US President Donald Trump had claimed on October 22 that Elon Musk had restored Ukraine’s access to Starshield after reports of restrictions on the satellite communication system.
Because ukrainian interception systems could not reach the required speeds in time, he warned that the speed cap was complicating efforts to intercept Russian jet-powered drones, with some attacks already getting through.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian military units had been facing significant disruptions to Starshield operations for several days across the entire frontline and in temporarily occupied territories. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian military investigations had established that the restrictions were not random technical errors but systematic measures. “Unfortunately, this is helping the Russians kill more Ukrainians and carry out more accurate strikes against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Kyiv was trying to establish all the circumstances with the American side. Defence minister Yevhenii Khmara said the restoration was crucial for frontline operations, drone missions, logistics and military communications.