In brief
Despite President Donald Trump’s public assertion that Elon Musk had removed any restrictions on Starlink, Kyiv’s defence ministry reports that the satellite network continues to suffer speed limits, causing unmanned drones to lose connectivity when travelling faster than 100mph. The White House and Musk have denied any intentional throttling, but Ukrainian units remain wary, monitoring both the civilian Starlink and the military‑grade Starshield feeds. The ongoing debate underscores the strategic importance of satellite broadband for Ukrainian battlefield communications and the necessity of a reliable, high‑speed link for real‑time command and control. Meanwhile, tensions between Washington and Kyiv flare over broader policy issues linked to the war in Crimea.
The Ukrainian defence ministry reports that the SpaceX‑run Starlink satellite network remains throttled, causing drone operators to lose signal at speeds exceeding 100mph, despite President Donald Trump’s statement that Elon Musk had lifted all restrictions.
According to Kyiv sources, drones travelling at 161km/h (100mph) are experiencing intermittent connectivity, hampering real‑time targeting and the coordination of defensive operations.
In a brief interview, Trump denied having instructed Musk to limit Starlink’s performance, adding that Musk had “put it back.” He also said, “If there is a problem, I will get it straightened out.”
Elon Musk has previously stated that he was not partial to the slowdown, which affected the deployment of Ukrainian attack drones and interceptors. The White House has repeatedly ruled out any deliberate limitations on the network in Ukraine.
Ukrainian military units are closely monitoring both the civilian Starlink service and the secure Starshield variant, but no confirmation has yet confirmed that the restrictions have been fully lifted.
Starlink and Starshield use a constellation of about 10,000 low‑Earth‑orbit satellites to provide high‑bandwidth, low‑latency links, especially crucial in remote combat zones. While Russia is prohibited from accessing Starlink, Ukraine depends on this network for long‑range missile strikes and battlefield situational awareness; any throttling directly hampers strategic operations.
One fighting soldier noted that “there simply is no alternative” when connectivity drops at road speeds of 80km/h (50mph). Another highlighted that even a one‑or‑two‑second lag can be decisive in the exchange of orders and data streaming during missions.
The issue emerged during a diplomatic standoff involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Trump over Russian strikes on European oil infrastructure. Amid these tensions, Trump has waived some Russian sanctions and signed a deal to import Russian diesel, a move criticized by Kyiv and its allies.
The ongoing dispute over Starlink highlights the delicate balance between U.S. policy, commercial satellite operations, and Ukraine’s urgent need for rapid, secure communications on the modern battlefield.
