The Guardian view on Trump and Putin: Ukraine’s future is not theirs to bargain away | Editorial

Ukrainian military drones faced a sudden loss of satellite connectivity when traveling faster than 100 miles per hour earlier this month, causing a significant setback in their fight against Russia. Defense technology adviser Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov confirmed that this occurred between October 13 and 14, with some units reporting connection drops even at lower speeds.

The restriction applied to Starshield, a government-focused satellite internet network run by SpaceX, though the exact service Ukraine relied on has been disputed. The impact on the battlefield was immediate, as domestically-built interceptor drones used to hunt Russia's jet-powered Shahed attack drones struggled without the connection.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the restrictions were in place on Ukrainian territory, not in EU countries. The situation led to accusations directed at SpaceX founder Elon Musk, with both U.S. political sides condemning the decision. Musk denied any involvement, attributing the restriction to a decision made by the US government at the White House.

President Trump also denied responsibility, stating that he did not think it was Elon or SpaceX that implemented the throttling.