Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Thursday, Nov. 12 that Ukrainian units had recorded systematic speed restrictions on Starshield that limit terminals to about 161 km/h and that the limits have returned after an earlier October episode.
- SpaceX publicly said there has been no change to Starshield, while Elon Musk has previously said control over Starshield is exercised by U.S. authorities, leaving responsibility disputed between the company and U.S. officials.
- Ukrainian commanders say the restriction severs connections for drones and interceptor systems when those platforms exceed the speed cap, which has allowed some Russian jet-powered strikes to get through Ukrainian defences.
- The recurrence comes as U.S.-brokered peace talks and a U.S. envoy visit to Moscow were underway, and some Ukrainian officials told reporters they suspect the limits may be intended to influence negotiations; Kyiv is urgently seeking explanations from Washington and SpaceX.
- The episode has renewed calls for oversight and raised questions about Kyiv’s dependence on a single private satellite provider, with lawmakers and EU officials demanding clarity and reviews of the Pentagon-backed Starshield arrangements ahead of a mid-2027 contract renewal.