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Ukraine’s military has accused Elon Musk’s SpaceX of throttling Starlink satellite internet services, disrupting battlefield communications and drone operations at a critical moment. The move came as Ukraine also dealt with two intense Russian ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv, which officials say arrived without the usual advance warning from allied partners.
Starlink Speed Limits Hit Drone Operations
SpaceX introduced speed restrictions on Starlink satellite terminals overnight, according to Serhii Beskrestnov, defense technology adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Beskrestnov confirmed the development on Telegram, stating that Ukraine’s defense forces received no prior warning about the restrictions.
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“Our defence forces received no warning of such a restriction, and this led to the failure of a number of missions,” Beskrestnov wrote. He added that the timing was not accidental. “It is obvious that this action cannot be a coincidence and is connected to the current political situation,” he said.
Beskrestnov specified that the restrictions targeted the military-grade version of Starlink, limiting operations at speeds above 100 mph. He also noted that Starlink plays a key role in Ukraine’s aerial defense systems, helping intercept the jet-powered drones Russia has repeatedly launched against Ukrainian cities in recent months.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian army unit operating in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region said it had to cancel several planned operations as a direct result of the disruptions. The 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Ukrainian air assault forces reported noticing Starlink connectivity problems caused by data transfer speed limits overnight. The unit said the changes directly affected drones that rely on Starlink for in-flight control. “The drones kept flying, but the interruptions made them harder to control,” the unit said in a statement.
Officials Question Timing Amid Political Tensions
Several Ukrainian officials pointed to the political context surrounding the disruptions. Elon Musk is a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, and relations between Washington and Kyiv have grown increasingly strained. Trump has pressured Ukraine to stop striking Russian energy infrastructure, and Ukrainian officials have worried that Washington might reduce battlefield support to push Kyiv toward concessions at the negotiating table.
The disruptions also coincided with confusion over U.S. intelligence sharing. Two Ukrainian and two European officials told NBC News that the lack of advance warning before two Russian ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv this week left officials scrambling to understand the current status of American intelligence cooperation. Trump, however, insisted that the United States was still sharing intelligence with Ukraine.
The reasons behind the Starlink speed restrictions remain unclear. SpaceX did not immediately provide an explanation. However, Ukrainian officials said the timing raised serious concerns, given Musk’s close relationship with the Trump administration.
Technology Critical to Civilian Protection
Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires to the United States, Denys Sienik, emphasized how vital the technology has become. “The technology helps us save the lives of civilians and prevent more destruction in Ukraine caused by the Russian side,” Sienik said. His comments underlined the broader stakes involved in any disruption to Starlink services, which Ukraine relies on for both military coordination and civilian defense.
As tensions between Kyiv and Washington continue to grow, Ukrainian officials and their European partners are closely monitoring any changes to U.S. support. For now, the Starlink restrictions have added another layer of uncertainty to an already fragile situation on the ground.
