Ukraine’s defences against Russia hit by Starlink limits, Kyiv in talks with US

Ukraine is unable to use its interceptor systems effectively against Russian drone attacks because of speed restrictions imposed on Starlink, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday. He added that Kyiv was in contact with US officials to resolve the issue.

Zelenskyy told news agency Reuters in a WhatsApp media chat that Ukrainian officials had been informed that the restrictions were linked to technical issues. He said Ukraine had tested Starlink on European Union territory and encountered no similar problems, with the system operating at higher speeds.

The disruption comes as Ukraine increasingly relies on satellite communications to operate interceptor drones designed to counter Russian aerial attacks. An Associated Press report earlier said a speed cap imposed without warning early on Thursday restricted data connections when terminals moved faster than 160 kph, affecting drones equipped with Starshield, the military version of SpaceX’s satellite service. The restriction has forced Ukrainian drones to operate below their usual speeds, potentially making them more vulnerable to Russian weapons.

Serhii Beskrestnov, a defence technology adviser to Zelenskiy, told the AP that Ukraine was negotiating with SpaceX, the Pentagon and the US government to have the restriction lifted or switch to an alternative service package. “But we now understand that this is not only a technical issue and not only a business issue, but also a political one,” Beskrestnov said.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk said the US government owns and controls Starshield, with decisions on its use resting with the American military and, ultimately, US president Donald Trump. On Friday, Trump said that he had not ordered the restrictions and did not believe Musk was responsible.

The Starlink issue has emerged amid renewed Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. In a statement on X, Zelenskyy said more than 15 critical power generation and transmission facilities had been targeted across several regions, on Saturday. “Between 7 pm yesterday and 7 am today alone, more than 320 jet-powered and gasoline-powered ‘shaheds,’ along with loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, were used against our energy sector, our cities, and our communities,” he said.

Zelenskyy added that restoration work was under way, with energy companies deploying available resources to repair damaged infrastructure. He also criticised Washington’s decision to waive provisions of the Lindsey Graham sanctions law, arguing that easing pressure on Russia could encourage further attacks. Ukraine is now exploring alternative satellite communication systems, including Europe’s OneWeb and a network being developed by Amazon, Beskrestnov told AP.