Ukrainian officials said Wednesday that SpaceX had limited its Starlink and military-grade Starshield satellite internet services without warning, disrupting Ukrainian drone operations. Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the new restriction affects terminals moving faster than 100 mph (160 km/h) and has disrupted several combat missions.
The restrictions have forced the cancellation of some drone operations. Reports say connectivity can drop for 10–20 seconds even at speeds below the stated limit. The Ukrainian military relies heavily on Starlink for real-time communications to guide drones in attack and defense missions in Russian-occupied territories.
A defense ministry source said the limitations significantly complicate logistics and drone operations. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski publicly questioned Elon Musk’s actions.