Ukraine: Kyiv still observes restrictions on Starshield communications system

After US President Donald Trump announced an end to the Starshield throttling, Ukraine continues to report problems with the communications system that is important for warfare. “Cases of signal loss were still being observed this morning,” said defense ministry sources. There is “no confirmation that the restrictions have been lifted.”

The leadership in Kyiv has been complaining for days about a throttling of the Internet communications system Starlink and its variant Starshield. US media, citing government officials, reported that tech billionaire Elon Musk had ordered a restriction on the service provided by his company SpaceX.

Musk, however, said that “any restrictions on the speed or use” of the Starshield system would be decided by the US military and ultimately the president.

On Thursday, US President Trump declared that Starshield was “back.” "I don't want to say anything about whether I called or whether someone else called - it makes no difference," Trump replied to journalists' questions about whether he had spoken to Musk. "I guess he ended up turning it back on," Trump said.

Important role at the front

The Starlink service plays an important role in the communication of the Ukrainian armed forces at the front and is also important for controlling drones and defending against them.

Relations between Kyiv and Washington have deteriorated significantly in recent weeks. Trump has signed an agreement with Moscow to supply diesel fuel and suspended planned sanctions against Russia. When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the diesel deal, Trump called for it to be canceled.