Ukrainian Starlink restrictions: Zelenskyy vs Elon Musk — Why ‘Starshield’ is so important on the battlefield | Explained | Today’s news

In the midst of a war with Russia, Ukraine’s military operations have been affected by restrictions on satellite communications services, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressing concerns about disruptions to Starlink connectivity, according to Axios.

Ukraine’s complaint about the restrictions highlighted both Starlink and Starshield, a military-grade version of the network developed for the Pentagon by SpaceX.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov also announced in a post on X that “connections will be restored at speeds of up to 160 km/h.” He said: “The complete removal of the Starshield speed limit is now essential for the defense of Ukraine,” Fedorov added. He thanked Elon Musk by saying, “We hope for your continued support.”

Why is Starlink so important for Ukraine? Zelensky reacts

Quick answers to key questions

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Starlink is a commercial satellite Internet service owned and operated by SpaceX. Starshield is its military arm; Musk said it is owned and operated by the US government, although the systems share basic satellite technology.

Ukraine uses Starlink for battlefield communications, drone operations, reconnaissance and intelligence gathering. Its connection can help drone operators maintain connections over longer distances than conventional radio networks.

Restrictions can cause drones to lose connection when traveling above the speed limit, disrupting missions. Ukrainian officials said the limits could hinder anti-missile drones, reconnaissance and other military operations.

Musk said the limits of the Starshield are decided by the US military and ultimately by the US president. The articles also said the origins of the restrictions were disputed, with the CNN report citing US officials as saying it was not a high-level political decision.

Ukraine’s defense minister said that connections are being restored at speeds of up to 160 km/h. He also said that the complete removal of the Starshield speed limit remained critical and it was reported that the 160 km/h cap would remain in place.

As cited by the New York Post, in an interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” Zelenskyy accused SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk of restricting Ukraine’s access to the Starlink satellite internet system, claiming that the breach affected military operations and the country’s ability to defend against Russian strikes.

“I’m sure they knew what they did, absolutely,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the reported breach, according to the New York Post. “Because it was 1 a.m. (when) Starlink was blocked by SpaceX and the United States,” he reportedly said.

Emphasizing the system’s role in protecting civilians, Zelenskyy said: “It’s not just about attacking, it’s also about defending life.” He added, “People were killed because there wasn’t enough destruction, there weren’t enough interceptors, including Starlink interceptors that didn’t work. Of course.”

Zelenskyy also warned of possible consequences, saying: “It’s a big mistake…This decision will bring many human losses…Of course, people will die. If the attacks continue and if Starlink doesn’t work, it won’t be useful.”

Appealing for the service to be restored, he said: “So my message is absolutely, I hope it’s a bug, maybe a huge technical problem, I don’t know. But we’re asking to turn it on.”

Starlink satellites operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX provide high-speed internet – something modern warfare relies heavily on. Kiev has adopted it as a vital battlefield communication tool and is also using it in drone warfare, the BBC reported.

Ukrainian forces rely on Starlink to operate reconnaissance and interceptor drones, gather intelligence and conduct other military operations. For example, Ukrainian drones are able to maintain stronger connections with operators over longer distances using Starlink than conventional radio networks.

A sudden speed limit for Starlink-connected drones means some “missions” on the battlefield have been disrupted, a top Ukrainian official has told the BBC.

What did Elon Musk say?

Musk made a distinction between Starlink and Starshield. He said the two systems are separate but in many cases share the same underlying satellite technology. Starshield is said to be the military offshoot of Starlink.

In a post on X, Musk suggested that the U.S. government, and not SpaceX, might be responsible for slowing Ukraine’s use of the technology.

“Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government,” he wrote. “Any speed or use restrictions are decided by the US military and ultimately by the POTUS,” he added.

“Starlink is a commercial service owned and operated by SpaceX. The use of Starlink is limited to civilian or defense activities and cannot be used for offensive military actions as it would be inappropriate for a commercial company,” Musk said.

Musk was responding to a post on X by former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who said that “Starlink connectivity at speeds of up to 160 km/h is being restored” but that “the complete removal of the Starshield speed limit is now essential for the defense of Ukraine.”

Fedorov then thanked Musk for his “continuous support”.

Who blocks satellite internet services in Ukraine?

According to AFP, Ukrainian defense officials have indicated that Washington is behind slower speeds reported on some internet terminals that help the country’s military strike Russian-occupied territory and operate anti-missile drones.

Ukraine has also accused the United States of aiding Russia by failing to warn it of incoming missile attacks, with ballistic missiles hitting Kiev two nights in a row before air raid sirens could sound to warn people to take cover.

However, CNN, citing two US officials, said the decision to limit Ukraine’s access to Starshield was not a high-level US policy decision.

Axios reported that the restriction raised questions about the implications of the disruption amid deteriorating relations between US President Donald Trump and Zelensky following an oil supply deal involving Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukraine’s territory.

SpaceX’s satellite communications proved vital to both militaries during the four-year war, including in Russia’s attack on a moving passenger train, but earlier this year Musk cut off the use of Starlink terminals for Russian forces in a move that blunted Moscow’s advance in Ukraine and caused confusion among Russian commanders.