Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused SpaceX of deliberately restricting Starlink speeds in Ukraine, hampering drone defenses against Russian attacks. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Zelenskyy said tests proved the limits apply only inside Ukraine, not in EU countries, calling it a “planned operation.”
Ukraine’s military relies on Starlink and its militarized version, Starshield, to control interceptors and strike drones. Zelenskyy said terminals now cut out above 161 km/h, preventing drones from chasing Russian jet-powered Shaheds, which fly at about 400 km/h. Vehicles tested in EU territory at 180 km/h maintained connections, he added, citing logs as evidence .
Elon Musk stated on Wednesday that Starshield is controlled by the U.S. government, with limits set by the military and ultimately the president. President Donald Trump denied White House involvement on Friday, while The Telegraph reported Musk proposed the throttling to Trump, citing sources familiar with the discussion .
Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, discussed the issue with Trump’s adviser Jared Kushner on Friday, Zelenskyy said. A White House official insisted the service is operational, but Ukrainian officials reported ongoing restrictions .
