President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Ukrainian military units had recorded significant disruptions to the Starshield satellite communications service for several days, affecting the entire front line and Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
In a post on Telegram, Zelensky said that systemic restrictions were limiting the speed at which Starshield could be used to 161 kph (100 mph). Starshield is the military version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications service.
As a result of the restrictions, Ukrainian interceptors could not reach sufficient speed to down Russian jet-powered drones, with some hits already occurring, Zelensky said.
"This helps Russians kill more Ukrainians and carry out more accurate strikes on Ukraine," Zelensky said. He added that Ukraine was trying to clarify the reasons for the restriction with the US side.
In mid-October, Ukrainian officials said SpaceX had abruptly capped the speed of Starlink and Starshield, cutting off drones and other equipment moving faster than about 160 kph (100 mph) amid tensions with the Trump administration over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Service was restored on October 24 and neither Musk nor the US government, which operates Starshield using Starlink technology, took responsibility for imposing the curbs.
Deny Sienik, deputy chief of mission and chargé d’affaires at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, told Reuters there had been no clarification so far from SpaceX or the Pentagon.
"We experience speed limitations as of now on Ukrainian occupied territories and across the contact line. The contact line is the first line of our defense and the first point for interception of Russian drones," he said.
Zelensky warns Starshield restrictions aid Russian strikes as US seeks to end war
The new disruptions come a day after the end of two days of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, brokered by the United States, the first such meeting since February. A Ukrainian official said there was no mention of the disruptions during the talks and it was unclear who had made the decision.
Ukraine has carried out a series of strikes against Russian refineries and energy installations in recent weeks, as Moscow has continued to pummel Ukrainian electricity infrastructure and cities with drones and missiles.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting with US negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff today to discuss ending the war.