Ukrainian officials report that SpaceX has imposed speed limits on Starlink terminals, disrupting drone operations during a period of heightened Russian attacks.
Key facts
- •Ukrainian officials report that Starlink terminals are currently restricted to a maximum speed of 160 kph.
- •The restrictions have disrupted the use of reconnaissance and interceptor drones in the conflict against Russia.
- •President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the loss of full service connectivity threatens lives on the battlefield.
- •Elon Musk has denied that SpaceX is responsible for the speed limits imposed on the satellite service.
- •The disruption occurred shortly after Ukraine reported a failure to receive early warnings regarding a Russian ballistic missile attack.
Ukrainian officials report that SpaceX has restricted the speed of Starlink satellite terminals used by the military, hindering reconnaissance and drone strike capabilities. The limitations, which occurred amid increased Russian attacks, have forced the cancellation of some defense missions. While Ukrainian officials have called for the full restoration of service, Elon Musk has denied that his company is responsible for the restrictions.
By the numbers
Operational Impact on Defense
The restrictions, which Ukrainian officials say were implemented by SpaceX on Tuesday night, limit the speed at which Starlink terminals can operate while in motion. According to reports, the system disconnected or restricted service when drones exceeded speeds of 80 to 160 kilometers per hour. The Ukrainian 7th Corps of the Air Assault Forces stated that these disruptions led to the cancellation of several missions. While service was partially restored by Wednesday, Ukrainian officials continue to advocate for the complete removal of all speed limits on Starlink and the military-grade Starshield service. Former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov emphasized that removing these constraints is critical for Ukraine's defense efforts.
Conflicting Accounts on Responsibility
The cause of the service throttling remains a point of contention. Ukrainian officials, including presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov, have suggested the restrictions are linked to the current political climate and recent tensions between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump. Some officials have expressed suspicion that the move could be a warning from the Trump administration. Elon Musk has insisted that SpaceX did not set the speed limits, suggesting instead that any such restrictions would have been implemented by the U.S. military or the Trump administration. A senior U.S. official stated that the Trump administration was not involved in the constraints, while the White House and the Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Axios, ABC Australia.
