Ukrainian defense officials and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that speed restrictions on Starlink and Starshield remain in effect, contradicting U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had restored the satellite services to full capability.
During a press conference Friday, Ukrainian defense ministry officials stated they had conducted morning tests showing speed limits of 140–160 kilometers per hour (approximately 87–99 mph) were still active, with navigation systems malfunctioning. "As of this morning, instances of connectivity loss at speeds of 161 km/h are still being observed. There is currently no confirmation that the restrictions have been lifted," a defense ministry official told reporters. Zelenskyy separately said: "The speed limits on Starlink and Starshield are still there. The speed has not been restored."
The dispute centers on restrictions introduced on October 13 to the military-focused Starshield service. Ukrainian forces depend on Starlink's civilian service and Starshield for battlefield communications, drone operations, and coordinating defensive and strike missions. Drones traveling faster than the speed limit lose connectivity, hampering Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian attack drones and guide strikes against Russian military targets. One Ukrainian soldier told the BBC that connectivity had cut out when traveling at just 50 mph in a vehicle, describing the service as having "simply no alternative" and warning that a complete shutdown would be "an absolute catastrophe."
Trump said on Thursday that Musk had "put it back," referring to the restoration of speeds. When asked Friday about ongoing problems, Trump said: "If there is a problem, I will get it straightened out." He added: "I have not spoken to him. I might have to, but I have not. I've heard it was fixed, but if it's not, I'll speak to him." Trump declined to say whether he had ordered the initial restrictions, telling reporters: "Well, I wouldn't tell you if I did know. I have no idea."
The source of the restrictions remains unclear. Reuters reported that U.S. and Western officials attributed the decision to the White House, while the Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had personally ordered the slowdown. Neither Musk nor the U.S. government has publicly accepted responsibility. Musk has said Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government and that decisions on its speed and use are made by the U.S. military and ultimately the president. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said decisions on Ukraine's access to Starlink rest with SpaceX and Musk.
Military advisors to Zelenskyy also disputed that restrictions had been lifted. Serhii Beskrestnov, a military expert advising the president, said: "At present, we have not observed any lifting of the restrictions on Starlink." He noted that isolated instances of Starlink operating above the imposed limits were likely due to SpaceX algorithms or specific conditions rather than any removal of restrictions.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham raised the matter with Trump in a Friday evening call. Downing Street stated that Burnham "underlined the importance for Ukraine to have full access to Starlink so they can continue to defend themselves against Russia's full-scale invasion." The dispute has occurred amid broader tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy over Ukraine's strikes against Russian oil refineries, which Trump says have driven up global energy prices.
