Overview
- President Volodymyr Selenskyj said Thursday that Starshield, the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink, has been “systematically” restricted across the front and that connections drop above about 161 km/h.
- Ukrainian officials say the reported speed cap has made it harder to control drones and to intercept Russian jet-powered drones, and that those limits have contributed to strikes and Ukrainian casualties.
- Responsibility for the restrictions remains publicly disputed: earlier reporting blamed SpaceX leadership, Elon Musk has said the US military controls Starshield, and US officials and SpaceX have not provided a definitive public attribution.
- Kyiv is pressing the US for urgent clarification and for rapid talks on renewing its Starshield contract, which is due to expire in mid-2027.
- Security analysts and European officials warn the episode exposes risks from dependence on a single private satellite provider for battlefield communications and could drive moves to diversify or regulate dual-use space services.