
AI-generated summary
Ukraine is using SpaceX's Starlink (Starshield) as a key military communications network amid the Russian invasion.
Denies report that “Speed restored after Trump-Musk call”
(Rome = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kyung-rak Min = The controversy over speed limits for Starlink, a key communication technology for Ukraine's drone operations, continues despite U.S. President Donald Trump's insistence on 'restoration'.
An official in Ukraine denied claims of Starlink restoration, telling local media Kiwi Independent on the 23rd (local time), "Overall, nothing has changed anywhere."
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported the day before that President Trump called SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and asked him to lift the speed limit on Ukraine's military Starlink (Starshield).
At the same time, citing U.S. and Ukrainian officials, it was reported that Starshield was operating more normally than before. In response to reporters' questions at the White House the day before, President Trump also said, "It doesn't matter whether I called or someone else called. What matters is that he (Musk) took it back."
However, a Ukrainian official refuted the WSJ report on the day, saying, “It is all untrue.” Due to the continued 161 km/h speed limit, mid-range strikes and high-speed drone interceptions are still being hindered. A source from Ukraine's Ministry of Defense also told AFP, "As of this morning, there have been reports of signal disruptions. We have not confirmed the lifting of restrictions."
Ukraine's interception system is not functioning properly due to the speed limit of Starlink and the disruption of air defense network support such as Patriot. According to the Ukrainian Energy Authority, energy facilities in six regions of Ukraine were attacked by Russia overnight, leaving more than 500,000 citizens without power.
The Ukrainian military claims that speed limits began to be imposed on Starshield around the 14th.
Ukraine suspects that the Starshield speed limit stems from the conflict between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy over the energy truce and the US-Russia transit deal. When Ukraine resumed its attacks on Russian oil refineries despite President Trump's unilateral energy truce announcement, Starlink's speed was limited for pressure. Ukraine recently declared a resumption of attacks on Russian oil refineries as Russia's attacks continued despite the announcement of an energy ceasefire.

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