Ukraine accuses U.S. of helping Russia as missiles hit Kyiv

Ukrainian officials have accused SpaceX of limiting its high-speed Starlink satellite internet services in Ukraine, disrupting military drone operations without prior warning. Presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov stated that SpaceX imposed a speed limit on its military-grade Starshield satellite terminals in Ukraine, hindering their ability to operate at speeds above 100 miles per hour.

The restriction affects Starshield terminals mounted on mobile platforms such as drones, which are critical for guiding Ukraine's drone strikes that have targeted Russian logistics in occupied southern and eastern Ukraine. Following the limitation, Ukraine's 7th Rapid Reaction Corps reported that they had to cancel multiple missions due to intermittent connection drops caused by the speed limit.

The disruptions have been worsening, with connection drops occurring at speeds as low as 60-70 km/h, making drones harder to control. While the reason behind the throttling remains unclear, Ukrainian officials believe it is intentional, coinciding with pressure from Washington for Ukraine to halt drone strikes on Russian oil refineries.

SpaceX has not commented on the matter, but Elon Musk expressed criticism of Ukrainian President Zelensky on social media. Ukraine relies heavily on Starlink for battlefield communications, and shutting down the service could severely impact their frontline defenses. In response, Ukrainian defense tech company Stetman is developing an independent domestic satellite communications system to reduce dependence on SpaceX.