Ukraine reports ongoing Starshield speed limits despite official claims

UPDATE - follow-up to Musk's SpaceX is still restricting Starlink in Ukraine and the toll is rising: Ukrainian officials report that SpaceX continues to throttle its Starshield satellite system, cutting off drones traveling above 100 mph and disrupting military missions against Russia.

Official Statements

Denys Sienik, Ukraine's deputy ambassador to the U.S., stated on Friday that restrictions remain in place. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on X that speeds have not been restored, making frontline operations harder. Dmitri Alperovitch, chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator, warned that Ukraine is losing drones and struggling to strike Russian logistics. Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense tech advisor, also confirmed the limits persist, noting that any working terminals are likely due to algorithms rather than lifted restrictions. Elon Musk and SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment.

Political Action

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that he had heard service was fixed, though he previously gave conflicting statements about speaking with Musk. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers sent a letter on Thursday to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, urging an investigation into Musk and demanding expanded Starshield arrangements to ensure uninterrupted support.

Alternative Options

Ukraine is exploring new satellite internet options as the disruptions continue. Zelenskyy met with Norwegian officials and defense company Kongsberg to discuss new capabilities. Additionally, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense signed a letter of intent with Nokia and ICEYE on Thursday to explore space cooperation and build sovereign communications.

Context

Satellite internet has become a critical tool for frontline military operations, making service disruptions a major national security concern. Because viable alternatives to SpaceX's network are still limited, nations relying on commercial providers face unique challenges during conflict.