Zelenskyy: Systematic Starshield speed restrictions reported again on front line
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reported that significant disruptions to the operation of Starshield are once again being recorded on the front line. The Ukrainian side is trying to ascertain all the circumstances with the US.
Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)
Quote: "Received briefings from Minister of Defence of Ukraine Yevhenii Khmara and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi. Unfortunately, our units have been recording significant disruptions to Starshield's operations over the territory of Ukraine for several days now – along the entire front line and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Specifically, systematic speed restrictions are being imposed on Starshield, limiting it to 161 kilometres per hour (100 miles per hour). The Ukrainian military has already investigated the circumstances, and these are not random errors but systematic speed restrictions.
For us, this primarily means a significant complication in intercepting Russian jet-powered drones. Unfortunately, there have already been strikes that got through because our interception systems cannot reach sufficient speeds and are unable to intercept in time."
Details: Zelenskyy emphasised that this helps the Russians kill more Ukrainians and carry out more accurate strikes against Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities are trying to establish all the circumstances with the American side.
Background:
- On 19 October, Zelenskyy said that Starlink and Starshield equipment had stopped working at speeds of 130-161 km/h in various sectors of the front line, disrupting logistics and limiting Ukraine's use of drones.
- The Telegraph reported that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk approached Trump with the idea of restricting the bandwidth of the Starlink and Starshield satellite networks used by the Ukrainian military.
- According to The Wall Street Journal, Musk ordered the slowdown for the military version of Starlink for Ukraine, which made some Ukrainian strike drones and interceptor drones practically unusable.
- On 22 October, the WSJ reported that US President Donald Trump had allegedly called Elon Musk and asked him to lift the restrictions on Starshield in Ukraine.
- On 24 October, Zelenskyy confirmed Starlink and Starshield had resumed operations "at the speeds they were capable of before these restrictions were imposed".
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