Ukraine seeks removal of Starshield speed limits in talks with SpaceX and Pentagon – Flash

According to Beskrestnov, the restrictions took effect early Thursday morning without warning. Satellite terminals now lose their internet connection when traveling at speeds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour. Such connectivity is essential for Ukrainian drones that use Starshield, the military version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite service.

The new restrictions have forced Ukrainian drones to reduce their speed, making them easier for Russian forces to shoot down while giving Russian aerial targets more opportunities to evade interception.

"But now we understand that this is not just a technical issue or a business issue, but also a political one," Beskrestnov said.

He added that Ukraine can currently only speculate about who makes decisions on the restrictions and what factors influence them.

Starshield is used, among other things, to control Ukrainian interceptor drones that pursue Russian jet-powered drones at speeds exceeding the imposed limit.

"Our guys in the Armed Forces are demonstrating that this solution works effectively. And then something unexpected happens: Suddenly, this solution stops protecting our country," the presidential adviser said.

According to him, the restrictions also affect Ukrainian helicopters used to hunt Russian propeller-driven Shahed drones.

Starshield is a military satellite communications service controlled by the Pentagon and the U.S. government and provided to partner countries for defense purposes. It has separate pricing plans and terms of use that differ from those of civilian Starlink, while offering a more stable, higher-priority connection.

Beskrestnov stressed that Starshield is not used on Russian territory. The system also does not provide communications for Ukrainian drones attacking Russian oil refineries.

After the restrictions were introduced, Ukraine began publicly raising the issue almost immediately because numerous military units depend on Starshield. According to the adviser, connectivity disruptions subsequently began to occur, possibly because of the system's new settings.

Kyiv is currently considering two options: switching to a separate Starshield aviation plan without speed restrictions or securing the removal of the limit under its existing plan. However, the aviation plan is significantly more expensive, creating additional difficulties for Ukraine.

"We are now actively negotiating with the Pentagon, SpaceX and the U.S. government. And at this point, we do not know what the decision will be," Beskrestnov said.

He also emphasized that Starlink is important to Ukrainian troops not only during combat operations but also for maintaining morale. At many positions, satellite communications remain the only way for service members to stay in touch with their families.

Earlier on Oct. 17, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces continued to report speed restrictions affecting Starlink satellite communications terminals across the country. He believes the restrictions are part of a planned operation.

On Oct. 14, Elon Musk said that speed restrictions on the military Starshield service were determined by the U.S. government, not his company. Meanwhile, The Telegraph, citing four sources, reported that Musk had personally approached U.S. President Donald Trump with a proposal to restrict Starlink operating speeds in Ukraine.

Trump, however, claimed that neither he nor Musk was involved in the decision.