Ukraine

Zelenskyy: Starlink Speed Caps Let Russian Drones Through

Is Musk's control of Starlink a national security disaster for Ukraine or is Kyiv to blame for violating the terms of service?

2 hours ago·Updated 29 minutes ago

Zelenskyy: Starlink Speed Caps Let Russian Drones Through

Story

Above: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a press briefing in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Nov. 10. Image credit: Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/ Getty Images/Denmark OUT

The Facts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that Ukrainian forces had recorded "significant disruptions" to Starshield for several days along the entire front line and in occupied territory, capping it at 161 kph (100 mph).
Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X
France 24
Anadolu Agency
Zelenskyy added that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had already investigated the situation and concluded that these were "not random errors but systematic speed restrictions," affecting the country's military operations.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X
Most notably, Zelenskyy said the slowdown complicated interception missions targeting Russian jet-powered drones, resulting in some strikes breaching Ukraine's defences because its interceptors could not reach sufficient speed.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X
It is the second time in less than a month that Ukraine's access to Starshield, a militarized version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite network, has been curtailed, after Zelenskyy told NBC that the U.S. had restricted Ukraine's Starshield services in October as a "message" to the country.
SpaceX
NBC
Elon Musk later admitted that he had capped Ukraine's speed limits, alleging it had violated commercial Starlink terms by using it for "offensive drone strikes to kill people," following reports that he had approached President Donald Trump and gained his approval for slowing Starlink in Ukraine.
Elon Musk on X
The Telegraph
The development comes as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Moscow on Thursday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin after trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi ended without a breakthrough. Senior Ukrainian officials told the Financial Times they believed the speed limits were meant to pressure Kyiv.
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
Financial Times
Kyiv Independent

Sources Split

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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Letting one unelected billionaire flip a switch on battlefield communications is a national security disaster waiting to happen. When speed caps knock drones out of the sky mid-flight, the price gets paid in Ukrainian lives and bombed-out power plants. Europe needs its own satellite network fast, because trusting Elon Musk with wartime survival is madness.

BostonGlobe

Independent

Narrative B

Ukraine can complain about the restrictions imposed on its Starshield access all it wants, but it only has itself to blame. It has hacked Starlink terminals to bypass commercial speed restrictions and used the service to kill Russians against the terms of service. If it continues this violative behavior, then it can expect further restrictions.

Elon Musk on X