Limits on Starlink Services Cripple Ukrainian Drones as Musk Points to U.S. Control

Overview

• Ukrainian officials say recent speed limits on SpaceX’s Starlink and military-oriented Starshield have slowed combat drones to 80–160 km/h and hampered frontline missions while some service was later partially restored.
• Elon Musk publicly asserted that Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government and that any operational limits are set by the U.S. military and the president.
• U.S. officials denied deliberate interference and blamed a technical failure for recent intelligence and communications shortfalls, while President Zelenski urged full restoration and warned outages could cause deaths.
• Bulgarian authorities are probing a suspected arson that damaged 11 Starlink ground antennas near Sofia and the conflict has seen renewed Russian strikes on energy infrastructure and a deadly drone debris strike in Lutsk.
• The row follows a controversial U.S.–Russia energy agreement that strained Kyiv–Washington ties and highlights wider risks when commercial satellite networks are used for military communications.