Ukraine Starlink speed restrictions in effect again, Zelenskyy says
Military units have recorded "significant disruptions" similar to the speed limits enforced in October, Ukraine's president said.
Ukraine's military Starlink system, known as Starshield, has once again faced speed restrictions, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday. Zelenskyy reported that the disruptions have been ongoing for several days across Ukraine's frontline and occupied territories. The limitations, affecting Starshield's operations, have hampered the effectiveness of defensive systems, particularly interceptors.
These restrictions were previously lifted on October 24 but have resurfaced, according to Zelenskyy. He emphasized that the primary issue is the significant complication in intercepting Russian jet-powered drones. The latest restrictions have allowed several Russian drones to penetrate Ukrainian air defenses, resulting in the deaths of more Ukrainians.
Defense technology advisor Serhii Bezkrestnov confirmed the recurrence of connectivity issues, particularly with helicopters pursuing "Shahed" drones and jet interceptors tasked with shooting them down. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed uncertainty about who caused the slowdown of Starlink for Ukraine in October, stating that he knows it has since returned.
Ukraine is seeking urgent negotiations to renew its contract with Starshield, which is set to end in mid-2027. The U.S. Department of Defense and SpaceX, Starshield's parent company, have not commented on the matter yet.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
