Starlink speed limits in Ukraine hamper efforts to intercept jet-powered Shahed drones – Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed during a press conference on October 17 that Starlink terminals in Ukraine are subject to speed restrictions, which he characterized as a deliberate operation. The maximum speed for these terminals is capped at 160 kilometers per hour (99 mph), beyond which they automatically shut down, leaving Ukrainian forces without connectivity to the drones they rely on.

In contrast, Ukrainian military tests of Starlink equipment in EU countries had no such limitations and achieved speeds surpassing 180 kilometers per hour (112 mph).

Zelenskyy emphasized that these restrictions are strictly enforced on Ukrainian territory, but not in EU countries. This discrepancy means that the ability to intercept Russian jet-powered Shahed drones is severely hampered, as the interceptor drones are currently unable to operate due to the speed limitations. On October 14, news broke that the Starlink speed restrictions were disrupting critical military missions, including the delivery of food to combat positions and the use of interceptor drones to counter Russian drones.

The Defense Ministry's NV source later confirmed the connectivity restrictions that began on the morning of October 14, affecting Starshield, a service used by Ukrainian military personnel. These disruptions included communication breakdowns and potential impacts on the performance of interceptor drones. In response to the situation, Zelenskyy publicly appealed to American entrepreneur Elon Musk, accusing the U.S. government of imposing the speed restrictions on Starlink, rather than SpaceX. Musk clarified that his company's actions were solely responsible for the imposed speed limits.