Overview
- Ukrainian advisers and volunteers reported that SpaceX limited Starlink/Starshield performance during the night of Wednesday, which caused connections to drop in vehicles moving faster than about 160 km/h and disrupted several drone missions.
- Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and other officials said Starshield movement capability was restored by Thursday and units now report the service operating in moving vehicles.
- President Zelensky announced Ukraine resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries after a three-day pause that had been made at the request of President Trump, saying U.S. intelligence warnings and Starlink slowdowns were presented to Kyiv as deliberate decisions.
- The White House denies it ordered any restrictions on Starlink, while Elon Musk’s recent public support for President Trump and past SpaceX policy choices have fed political friction between Kyiv, Washington and private providers.
- Large drone and missile operations have continued across the front, including attacks that forced Moscow’s airports to close overnight, and Kyiv is seeking alternatives and more partner support as questions grow about private-satellite control, intelligence access and battlefield risk to civilians.