Ukrainian officials stated on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, that SpaceX has implemented speed restrictions on Starlink satellite internet terminals used by the military. Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, said the company set a connection limit of 100 mph (160 km/h) overnight without prior warning. Beskrestnov stated that the move disrupted a number of missions, including those involving interceptors and middle-strike drones.
The reported limitations come amid a period of high diplomatic activity and increased Russian military strikes. On Sunday, Oct. 11, U.S. President Donald Trump announced an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine. However, Ukraine reported that at least six energy sites have since been hit by Russian strikes. Meanwhile, President Zelensky stated that at least 600,000 people were without electricity following Russian missile and drone attacks on Oct. 13 and 14.
Military units on the ground reported operational difficulties resulting from the connectivity changes. The 7th Rapid Reaction Corps, operating in southeast Ukraine, told Reuters that units were forced to cancel some missions and that drones experienced connection drops of 10 to 20 seconds at speeds as low as 110-120 km/h, making the aircraft harder to control. Defence ministry sources added that once a vehicle or asset exceeds the 160 km/h threshold, the terminal loses its connection, which prevents terminals from maintaining connections on high-speed vehicles or interceptor drones used to shoot down Russian jet-propelled drones.
The impact involves Starlink terminals across the front lines, though an exact count of affected devices was not reported. For individual soldiers and drone pilots, the change means a loss of data relay and control when moving at high speeds, which officials say has degraded reconnaissance and signal relaying capabilities. The connectivity issues occurred following reports from President Zelensky that the U.S. threatened to restrict intelligence sharing unless Ukraine adhered to the proposed energy ceasefire, a claim President Trump denied on Tuesday.
These technical changes may further complicate Ukraine's ability to defend its infrastructure, as the air force reported shooting down only four of 39 missiles launched by Russia overnight. SpaceX has not yet issued a comment on the reported restrictions. Further details regarding the duration of the limits or any potential negotiations between Kyiv and SpaceX are not yet known.