Kyiv says overnight speed caps on satellite terminals disrupted drone flights and forced military units to cancel frontline missions.
Ukrainian officials accused Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Wednesday of disrupting military operations by placing unannounced speed restrictions on its satellite internet service. The move hindered drone missions across frontline sectors as the country endured repeated Russian aerial barrages.
The satellite curbs surfaced while Kyiv was already questioning Western support following two ballistic missile strikes on the capital that arrived without customary advance warnings from foreign allies, NBC News reported. Officials in Ukraine said the limits on the military-grade Starlink and Starshield terminals took effect overnight without prior notice.
Limits hit drone flights and frontline units
The restrictions set a speed cap on terminals moving at 100 mph or faster, according to Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Beskrestnov stated on Telegram that “our defence forces received no warning of such a restriction, and this led to the failure of a number of missions.”
The 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of Ukraine’s air assault forces confirmed that connectivity failures forced an unmanned systems unit in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region to call off planned tasks near Huliaipole. Military personnel reported that while aircraft remained airborne, data transfer interruptions made control difficult. Units also recorded operational troubles even when drones flew below the 100 mph limit.
Ukrainian defense teams rely heavily on satellite links to steer unmanned craft and track incoming targets, including jet-powered Shahed attack drones deployed by Russian forces. Beskrestnov warned that the speed limits stripped Ukraine of one of its few practical defenses against those high-speed aerial threats, Al Jazeera reported.
Dispute over contracts and political fallout
Ukrainian forces initially discovered the operational ceiling after noticing connectivity problems and reaching out to SpaceX customer support, Fox News reported. A source familiar with the situation said Ukraine immediately appealed to the company to lift the restriction, arguing that its service agreement covers mobile land-based platforms through May 15, 2027.
The Pentagon contracts with SpaceX for Starshield through the U.S. Space Force, but whether the military or the private company holds authority over operational caps remains unresolved under the agreement. Neither SpaceX, the White House nor the Pentagon immediately provided public clarification on Wednesday regarding who ordered the limits.
The change triggered sharp reactions from European allies. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski criticized Musk on social media, reminding the billionaire that Poland funds more than 2,900 Starlink terminals deployed in Ukraine. The two previously clashed over Ukraine’s reliance on the satellite network, which Musk activated for the country shortly after Russia launched its invasion in 2022.
Rising tensions between Kyiv and Washington
The Starlink slowdown arrived amid friction between Kyiv and U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently completed a diesel deal with Moscow and demanded that Ukraine halt strikes against Russian oil refineries. Trump had announced an energy truce, yet Russian barrages continued to batter Ukrainian infrastructure, leaving 600,000 residents without electrical power as Russian strikes cut power in Ukraine during the cold weather.
Confusion had already deepened after two ballistic missile strikes hit Kyiv earlier in the week without early alerts from Western partners, prompting concerns after Kyiv got no warning on missile barrage from allies. While Trump denied withholding intelligence, telling reporters Tuesday that “we are helping them and we are sharing intel,” Ukrainian officials stated that the timing of the satellite slowdown could not be separated from broader diplomatic strains.
Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Col. Yurii Ihnat said partner notifications for ballistic launches resumed during three subsequent attack waves on Wednesday. Kyiv has formally asked both SpaceX and the U.S. government to explain the technical curbs and restore full network functionality, but officials confirmed they had received no answer by Wednesday morning.
