Ukrainian military units have recorded systematic speed restrictions on the Starshield satellite network, hindering the interception of Russian jet-powered drones along the front line.
The disruptions involve a speed limit of 161 km/h, which Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported. The situation has prompted urgent inquiries by Ukrainian leadership, including Minister of Defense Yevhenii Khmara and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi, who provided briefings to the president regarding the operational impact of these constraints.
The speed limitation prevents Ukrainian defense systems from matching the 320–380 km/h flight speed of Russian drones, leading to successful strikes on targets.
Dmitry Medvedev has called on Elon Musk to repent for helping Ukraine. “It's always better than living out the rest of your life as Judas,” Medvedev wrote. According to Medvedev, Musk has already been dragged through the mud over the Starlink controversy. Now Musk is disgusted… pic.twitter.com/WP67CzxPaS
“Unfortunately, there have already been hits because the means used to shoot down these drones do not reach sufficient speed and cannot keep up with intercepting them. Unfortunately, this makes it easier for the Russians to kill more Ukrainians and carry out more accurate strikes on Ukraine. We are trying to clarify all the circumstances with the American side,” Zelenskyy said in a statement posted to social media.
The Ukrainian military confirmed that the issue is not a technical error, but a programmed constraint. Ukrainian military personnel have already verified the circumstances of this, and these are not accidental errors, but a systemic speed limit, Zelenskyy explained.
Beyond military implications, the instability has had direct consequences for civilians; in a drone attack on a residential building in Kyiv, one person died and six were injured, according to the mayor.
Starshield, the military-grade version of the SpaceX Starlink network, is designed for government, military, and intelligence use, utilizing specialized terminals and advanced encryption. While the system is essential for Ukrainian operations, it has faced recurring connectivity issues. Musk has previously said that the system is owned and controlled by the U.S. government, with usage criteria ultimately determined by U.S. leadership.
Following intervention from the United States, including a reported request from Donald Trump, full access was restored in October 2026. At that time, the system allowed for operation at speeds of up to 420 km/h and resumed the transmission of intelligence data regarding ballistic threats.
Received briefings from Minister of Defense of Ukraine Yevhenii Khmara and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi. Unfortunately, our units have been recording significant disruptions to Starshield’s operations over the territory of Ukraine for…
The current restrictions have coincided with high-level diplomatic activity; special envoys from Donald Trump, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow on Thursday for discussions with Vladimir Putin. These talks followed a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in Abu Dhabi, though an official said that the Starshield issue was not raised during that negotiation.
The status of the service remains a point of contention. While the contract with the U.S. government for Starshield access is set to expire in 2027, Ukrainian diplomatic representatives in Washington, including Denys Sienik, have expressed a desire to initiate talks for a new agreement.
Meanwhile, private sector entities like Fire Point are seeking ways to bypass current limitations. We are trying to squeeze the maximum out of this workaround solution. However, it cannot replace Starshield as a full-fledged alternative, neither in terms of price nor scalability, said the director general of Fire Point, regarding efforts to maintain operational capacity despite the limitations.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, has characterized the provision of Starlink and Starshield technology as making the company a participant in the conflict, alleging that the technology is used for strikes on civilian infrastructure. As Ukraine seeks to clarify the situation, additional meetings between the parties involved are planned for Dublin, coinciding with the European Political Community summit.