Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on Thursday that the Starshield satellite network is experiencing technical restrictions that are hindering Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian drones. Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian forces are facing a "systemic speed restriction" on the military version of Elon Musk’s Starlink network, affecting interceptors trying to fly faster than about 100 miles per hour. The technical issues were reported as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow for meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The network disruptions follow a previous outage reported last month. According to a Ukrainian official who spoke to CBS News, the current speed limitations began gradually three days ago and now affect 100% of the contact line and occupied territories. While Zelenskyy did not explicitly name a responsible party for the restrictions, a Ukrainian source told CBS News they are "certain" SpaceX implemented them. People familiar with the matter further stated that Elon Musk made the decision to reduce service last month following conversations with Trump administration officials.
The service issues coincided with a period of intensified aerial attacks. In Kyiv, authorities reported that a Russian drone strike hit an apartment building, resulting in the death of one woman. Additional strikes targeted energy infrastructure in Rivne, Odesa, and other regions, causing power disruptions. Meanwhile, Russia reported intercepting more than 70 Ukrainian drones, including several targeting Moscow. European Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier called for the urgent restoration of Starshield services to maintain Ukrainian connectivity and defense.
The reported restrictions affect the Ukrainian military's tactical capabilities along the front line and within occupied territories. By limiting the speed of satellite-guided interceptors to about 100 miles per hour, the technical change makes it more difficult for Ukrainian personnel to neutralize jet-powered drones. Zelenskyy alleged that Putin has told people close to him he wants to destroy life in major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa, where energy infrastructure and residential buildings have recently been hit.
The scale of the situation involves the security of the contact line and occupied territories. For the Ukrainian military, this change manifests as a loss of guidance connection during high-speed maneuvers. The European Commission emphasized that these satellite services are essential for defending territory.
Diplomatic efforts are currently underway to address the conflict, though hurdles remain regarding territorial sovereignty and NATO membership. U.S. envoys Witkoff and Kushner met with Putin following a round of talks in Abu Dhabi that resulted in plans for a prisoner exchange. The envoys were scheduled to travel to Dublin, Ireland, later Thursday to meet with Zelenskyy. Future discussions are expected to focus on whether European nations will be included in a multilateral peace format, a proposal Kushner supports but which has been dismissed by Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky.