Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. officials are in disagreement over recent disruptions to Starshield, a high-powered military version of the Starlink satellite network. President Zelenskyy stated in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday that he believes the U.S. government directed SpaceX to restrict access to the system. The Ukrainian leader said the restrictions have hindered his military’s ability to intercept Russian weapons and deliver supplies to front-line soldiers via drones.
Starlink and its military counterpart, Starshield, are operated by SpaceX and have been shared with Ukraine by the U.S. Defense Department since 2024. The system is central to Ukraine's defense against the Russian invasion, which is nearing its fifth year. The Pentagon has spent billions of dollars on the network to support Ukrainian communications and military operations, including drone strikes and missile interceptions.
President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have denied that the administration ordered any slowdown of the service. President Trump told reporters on Friday that he was not responsible for the interference and characterized the service as unchanged. Secretary Rubio said claims of deliberate disruption were \"categorically false,\" though he noted that discussions are ongoing regarding Ukraine's requests to use the system for strikes deep inside Russian territory. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated on X that usage and speed limits are determined by the U.S. military and the president.
The disagreement highlights a shift in the U.S.-Ukraine relationship under the Trump administration, which recently moved to ease sanctions against Russia. President Trump has criticized Ukraine for striking Russian oil refineries, citing concerns over U.S. diesel prices, and suggested that Ukraine needs a new president. The disruption of Starshield, which retired Navy Adm. Mark Montgomery described as a "signal" to stop these refinery attacks, sets a precedent for how the U.S. may use its control over critical defense technology to influence Ukrainian military strategy.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has called on the Defense Department's inspector general to investigate the cause of the disruptions. While President Zelenskyy noted that U.S. intelligence sharing—which he said had been blocked for three days—has resumed, he maintained that Starshield speeds have not been fully restored as of Sunday. The ongoing dispute coincides with intensified aerial warfare, as Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia on Sunday, striking a refinery and an oil export terminal in St. Petersburg.