Ukraine says Starlink speed limits remain in force despite Trump’s claim
Ukrainian military sources say SpaceX’s speed restriction on Starlink and Starshield terminals remained in effect on the morning of October 23, with connection losses still reported at 161 km/h. US President Donald Trump had said the previous evening that Elon Musk had lifted the limit. Ukraine’s Defence Ministry and presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov said they had no confirmation of a full lifting.
Key points
- Ukrainian military sources reported Starlink connection losses at 161 km/h on the morning of October 23.
- Ukraine’s Defence Ministry had no confirmation that the speed limit had been fully lifted.
- Trump said on October 22 that Musk had removed the speed restriction on the military Starlink service in Ukraine.
- Presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov said the restrictions were still in force on October 23.
- SpaceX restricted Starshield terminals in Ukraine during motion in the night of October 13–14.
- Ukrainian officials said the restrictions disrupted military operations and drone interceptors targeting Russian Shahed drones.
- Senator Richard Blumenthal initiated a Senate investigation into Ukraine’s access to Starshield.
Why it matters
Starlink and Starshield provide an important communications link for Ukrainian drone operations. The speed cap reportedly disrupted military missions and affected interceptors used against Russian Shahed strike drones, while the disagreement over whether the limit was lifted leaves the operational status unresolved. The episode has also prompted US political scrutiny, including an investigation led by Senator Richard Blumenthal.
What happened
Ukrainian military sources said the speed restriction on Starlink and Starshield terminals remained in place on the morning of October 23. They continued to report connection losses at 161 km/h, while Ukrainian units described navigation problems and interrupted communications during tests. Trump said on October 22 that Musk had lifted the restriction, but Ukraine’s Defence Ministry and Serhii Beskrestnov said there was no confirmation of a complete lifting. Ukrainian officials said the restriction had affected military operations and drone interceptors used to counter Russian Shahed drones.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage emphasizes the operational experience of the Defence Ministry, the Defence Forces and Serhii Beskrestnov. Ukrainian officials continue to treat the restriction as unresolved, noting the lack of official confirmation that the limits were removed. Zelensky has said the restriction reduced Ukraine’s ability to intercept Shahed drones and described it as a decision by the US government carried out technically by SpaceX.
How international sources describe it
Trump said the restriction had been lifted after Musk acted, while the White House denied US government involvement and described the disruption as a technical malfunction. Musk said Starshield is owned and controlled by the US government and that US military authorities determine speed limits with presidential approval. US lawmakers from both parties are seeking broader use of Starlink for Ukraine and investigations into the restrictions.
Background
SpaceX restricted Ukrainian Starshield terminals during motion in the night of October 13–14, with the reported speed cap at around 160 km/h. Ukrainian personnel reported lost connectivity when drones exceeded that speed on October 14, while the Defence Ministry said on October 15 that service was beginning to recover. Zelensky said on October 16 that the network had not been fully restored. The restriction followed criticism of Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries. Zelensky attributed the order to the US government and SpaceX; US officials rejected that account, while Musk said Starshield is controlled by the US government.