Zelensky, Costa, von der Leyen discuss additional EU support for Ukraine to get through winter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Starlink satellite network issues were hindering his country's defense capabilities against Russian missiles and drones on Thursday. The Ukrainian military's Starshield system, a military version of Elon Musk's Starlink network, was experiencing a systemic speed restriction, affecting its ability to intercept incoming threats.

Ukrainian interceptors were losing their Starshield satellite guidance connection when flying faster than 100 miles per hour. Ukrainian military personnel discovered multiple malfunctions in Starshield's operation across Ukraine's territory. A Ukrainian official confirmed that the speed limitations were affecting Ukrainian occupied territories and the contact line, the first line of defense.

Russian drones hit an apartment building in Kyiv, killing one woman, and caused energy infrastructure damage in Rivne, leaving more people without power. Starshield services needed urgent restoration for Ukraine to connect with its soldiers, protect its citizens, and defend its territory. European Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier emphasized the importance of restoring Starshield services.

Zelenskyy did not blame anyone for the latest problems with the Starshield system, but Ukrainian sources claimed SpaceX implemented the restrictions, following Elon Musk's decision to reduce Starshield service in Ukraine last month. U.S. senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, carrying on with their shuttle diplomacy.

The U.S. envoys aimed to involve European countries in the peace process, which Ukraine and its European partners had long pushed for. However, Russia accused American NATO allies of being a party to the war launched by Russia over a decade ago.