SpaceX restricts Starlink speeds for Ukraine, disrupting drone missions

Several Ukrainian combat missions failed on Tuesday night after SpaceX imposed sudden speed limits on Starlink satellite terminals used by the military, according to Serhiy Beskrestnov, a technology adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The restrictions, which were not announced in advance, affected terminals moving faster than 100 mph (160 km/h), cutting connectivity for fast-moving armored vehicles, drones, and aircraft.

Beskrestnov said the disruption came as Russia launched ballistic missiles at Ukraine for a second consecutive night without the usual advance warning from the United States. "Our armed forces did not receive a warning about these restrictions and this led to the failure of a number of missions," he wrote on Telegram, according to The Guardian. "It's clear that this action cannot be a coincidence and is connected to the current political situation."

The speed cap applied to Starshield, the military-grade version of Starlink operated by SpaceX for the US government. Elon Musk said the two networks are separate and that Starshield is not under SpaceX control. "Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government," Musk wrote on X. "Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS."

Ukrainian officials disputed the distinction, noting that Starlink and Starshield share underlying satellite technology. The restrictions have drawn attention to the relationship between the two services at a moment when Washington is pressing Kyiv to halt long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries. Ukraine's former defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, said access had been partially restored by Wednesday evening but that the limit was still disrupting missions.

The slowdown has had a direct effect on Ukraine's air defences. Starlink-enabled interceptors are among the most effective tools against jet-powered Shahed drones, which fly faster than 198 mph, according to the Institute for the Study of War. With the 100 mph cap, Ukrainian efforts to chase down those drones become almost impossible, the institute's George Barros told the BBC.

The restrictions also coincided with a large-scale Russian attack on energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy said Russia launched 39 ballistic missiles and 120 attack drones at Kyiv and Kharkiv, hitting five power plants and leaving at least 600,000 people without electricity. Ukrainian officials said they received no warning before the first barrage, deepening confusion about whether the US is withholding intelligence.

Musk has supported Trump's calls for Zelenskyy to be replaced and has criticized Ukraine's strikes on Russian refineries. Some Ukrainian officials interpreted the Starlink throttling as further pressure to end the fighting and make a deal with Russia. The Ukrainian government has reached out to the US and SpaceX for clarification but had not received a response as of late Wednesday, according to NBC News.