WorldPosted at: Nov 12 2026 11:26PM


Ukraine says renewed Starshield disruptions hindering ability to intercept Russian drones

Kyiv, Nov 12 (UNI) Ukraine has accused renewed speed restrictions on Starshield, SpaceX’s military satellite communications service, of disrupting its ability to intercept Russian drones, allowing some attacks to get through.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that systematic restrictions had been imposed for several days across the entire front line and Russian-occupied territories, limiting the movement speed of equipment using the satellite network to around 161 km per hour (100mph).
Following briefings from Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara and Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, Zelensky said Ukraine’s military had established that the disruptions were not random technical failures.
“For us, this primarily means a significant complication in intercepting Russian jet-powered drones,” he wrote on X.
“Unfortunately, there have already been strikes that got through because our interception systems cannot reach sufficient speeds and are unable to intercept in time.”
He warned that the restrictions were allowing Russia to carry out more accurate attacks and causing further Ukrainian casualties. Kyiv was seeking to establish the circumstances with Washington, he added.
The latest disruption comes less than three weeks after Ukraine announced that Starlink and Starshield operating speeds had been restored following high-level discussions with the US. On October 24, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry confirmed that connectivity was stable at movement speeds exceeding 400 kilometres per hour.
The first restrictions were detected overnight on October 13-14, when terminals used by Ukrainian forces began losing connectivity at speeds of around 160 km per hour. The disruption affected drone operations, military logistics and battlefield communications.
The restrictions apply to the speed at which drones and other equipment carrying satellite terminals can move while maintaining connectivity, rather than the speed of the internet connection itself. They are particularly damaging to high-speed interceptor drones used against Russian jet-powered attack drones.
Responsibility for the initial restrictions remains disputed. US President Donald Trump denied ordering the slowdown, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration was not responsible. SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk said decisions on Starshield restrictions were controlled by the US military and ultimately the US president, writing on X that “Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government”.
Neither Washington nor SpaceX has publicly accepted responsibility for imposing the restrictions.
The renewed disruption comes as Kyiv seeks to extend its agreement with Washington for access to Starshield, which is due to expire in mid-2027. Ukrainian officials have warned that negotiations on a replacement agreement must begin soon, given the network’s importance to military operations.
Ukraine has begun exploring alternatives to reduce its dependence on the US-controlled system. On October 22, its Defence Ministry signed a letter of intent with Finnish companies ICEYE and Nokia to explore the development of a sovereign satellite communications network that would give Kyiv greater control over military connectivity.
For now, Ukrainian forces remain heavily dependent on Starshield for battlefield communications and drone operations. The latest restrictions have renewed concerns in Kyiv over the reliability of access to a system central to its military capabilities.
The disruption also comes amid difficult US-mediated peace negotiations. Two days of talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US in Abu Dhabi this week ended without progress on the main disputes, including Moscow’s demand that Kyiv surrender territory it still controls.
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