Zelenskyy accuses Musk’s SpaceX of lying about restrictions for Starshield, says curbs more ‘political’ than ‘technical’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, of lying about restrictions imposed on Ukraine's Starshield satellite system. Zelenskyy claimed the speed limits on Ukrainian drones appeared to be "political" rather than "technical". The restrictions have limited drone speeds to 100 mph, halting their ability to intercept incoming Russian Shahed drones and severely affecting mid-range strikes against military targets in Russian-occupied territory.

Zelenskyy had asked Ukraine's military leadership, the Pentagon and the US State Department to address the issue with SpaceX. However, SpaceX had not provided a clear explanation for the disruptions. Zelenskyy disputed SpaceX's claim that it was not imposing any restrictions, stating that problems were reported "across the entire frontline".

He emphasized that the disruptions were not isolated cases, occurring daily and across various directions. Zelenskyy suspects the speed restrictions could be a deliberate move by the US to pressure Ukraine into making concessions to Russia. This comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, with Moscow demanding Ukraine surrender the eastern Donbas region.

Zelenskyy has ruled out giving up more territory to Russian forces. The issue of Starshield restrictions also arises while negotiations for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war continue, with disagreements over territorial concessions and security guarantees complicating talks.