White House ordered limits on Ukraine’s military satellite service, Reuters reports. Who made the decision remains unclear

On 15 October, Reuters reported that the White House had ordered limitations on Ukraine's military satellite service, Starshield. The restrictions impacted the military-grade version of SpaceX's Starlink, which Ukrainian forces relied on for battlefield communications and drone operations. Officials from the Pentagon, US officials, and a Western source confirmed the order, though it remained unclear who within the White House made the decision.

A senior US official denied any involvement by President Donald Trump in the restrictions. Ukrainian officials reached out to the White House, State Department, and Pentagon, but were told the decision originated from the White House itself. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul criticized the throttling of Starshield, emphasizing the need for Ukraine to continue receiving full support.

UK Defense Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed that Starlink had resumed normal operations, according to the Guardian. Within Ukraine, military officials reported that terminals were working again, albeit at reduced data speeds of up to 160 km/h, causing disruptions in drone missions. The restrictions coincided with US President Trump's urging for Kyiv to cease striking Russian oil refineries, which Ukrainian officials believed to be a potential motive behind SpaceX's decision, though this has not been confirmed.