Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Saturday that Ukrainian forces are unable to use Starshield satellite technology to intercept Russian drones due to speed restrictions. Zelenskyy reported that the military version of Elon Musk's Starlink system shuts off in Ukraine when it reaches speeds above 161 km/h, while operating at higher speeds in European Union territory. The restrictions have affected Ukraine's ability to counter jet-powered Shahed drones used by Russia.
Kyiv is currently in discussions with U.S. officials and SpaceX regarding the connectivity issues. Zelenskyy noted that while U.S. officials attributed the limitations to technical problems, he said SpaceX has not responded to inquiries from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. Elon Musk stated on the social media platform X on Wednesday that Starshield systems are "owned and controlled by the U.S. government," and that any usage or speed limits are determined by the U.S. military and the president.
President Trump told reporters on Friday that he had not limited Ukraine's access to the technology and expressed his belief that Musk was not responsible either. This disagreement occurs alongside shifts in U.S. policy toward the conflict, including the Trump administration's recent decision to waive restrictions on purchasing Russian diesel. Zelenskyy characterized the lifting of sanctions as a move that could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin, while President Trump has criticized Zelenskyy, calling him "harder to deal with" than Putin in a Newsmax interview.
The scale of the technical restriction is defined by a specific speed cap: Starshield functions up to 161 km/h in Ukraine before shutting off after two minutes, compared to speeds of 180-plus km/h in the EU. This technical barrier prevents the use of Starshield for high-speed drone operations. The impact includes the reported loss of both drone equipment and the connectivity required to operate them during combat. Sources in the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense alleged that SpaceX imposed these limits unilaterally, though the U.S. government's role in the decision remains a point of contention between the tech company and the administration.
The ongoing friction between the U.S. executive branch and the Ukrainian leadership suggests a potential shift in future aid and military policy. President Trump recently announced an "energy ceasefire" between the two nations, though Zelenskyy reported that Russian strikes on energy infrastructure have continued, leading Ukraine to resume strikes on Russian refineries. The next steps involve ongoing dialogues between Kyiv, the U.S., and SpaceX to determine the cause of the Starshield speed caps. No specific deadline for a resolution has been reported.