Zelenskyy says Starshield restrictions remain and are affecting only Ukraine, leading him to believe they are a “planned operation” rather than technical issues
Restrictions on Ukraine's military use of SpaceX's Starlink system appear to be deliberate and not the result …
Zelenskyy’s assertion that the cap applies only in Ukraine turns an operational constraint into a question of who governs military access to a privately operated satellite network. Reuters reported on October 16 that US and Western officials attributed the order to limit access to the White House.
First-order effects
Ukraine’s drone missions remain constrained where Starshield’s speed cap applies, prolonging the disruption Kyiv reported on October 15.
SpaceX’s control over Starlink and its stated civilian-or-defensive-use limits leave Ukraine’s operational access contingent on provider-enforced rules.
Second-order effects
Ukraine’s military planners must treat Starshield availability and performance as a controllable dependency rather than a fixed communications capability.
The reported White House role makes access to SpaceX’s network an instrument of policy as well as a technical service, concentrating leverage over Ukrainian operations outside Kyiv’s command.
Third-order effects
If provider-level controls continue to be used in conflict zones, commercial satellite connectivity will be governed less like neutral infrastructure and more like access-controlled strategic infrastructure.
The episode points to governments seeking greater influence over the operating rules of privately owned networks that are embedded in military operations.
The trend: Commercial infrastructure is becoming a geopolitical control point when providers and governments can selectively set the terms of battlefield access.
Ukraine's Starlink is still restricted and Russia sanctions lifted by Trump and there's nothing Republicans will say because the guys chiefly responsible for holding their majority want it this way https://x.com/...
@bohuslavskakate
@bohuslavskakate on x
IMPORTANT‼️: Zelenskyy stated that there are Starlink speed limitations in Ukraine but not in the EU, and that this is a planned operation ‼️ Zelenskyy to journalists (full statement translated): Regarding the work of Starlink on the territory of Ukraine: whether everything has r…
@kofmanmichael
Michael Kofman on x
Unfortunately this is right and throttle limits appear to be still in place hampering operations.
@julieroginsky
Julie Roginsky on x
Shameful. Disgusting. This is on Trump, Hegseth and Musk. They have betrayed Ukraine, the West and everything the US has claimed to stand for.
@simon_nixon
Simon Nixon on x
No hiding it now. A Molotov-Ribbentrop pact for our times
@sentdefender
@sentdefender on x
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine's Starlink systems remain capped at 161 km/h (100 mph), according to Christopher Miller of the Financial Times. He said exceeding the limit
@katerynalis
Kateryna Lisunova on x
‼️ ZELENSKYY: We received no advance warning about the lifting of sanctions on russia, the diesel deal, the so-called energy ceasefire, or the Starlink restrictions. Starlink cuts out at speeds exceeding 160 km/h (100 mph), causing us to lose both drones and communications. We cu…
@euan_macdonald
Euan MacDonald on x
US still hobbling Ukraine's defense by restricting Starlink operating speed to 161 km/h. EU territory unaffected, only Ukraine, pointing to deliberate action by US, not technical problem. US betrayal continues, Ukrainian soldiers and citizens at increased risk.
@christopherjm
Christopher Miller on x
Latest: Zelenskyy tells reporters over WhatsApp that restrictions on Ukraine's Starlink systems remain. Interceptor drones can't function, logistics and operations hobbled. The maximum speed is 161 kph;
@mpolymer
Marc Polymeropoulos on x
Congressional leadership should demand a Gang of 8 brief briefing immediately on this. Bring in Ratcliffe , Clayton, Hegseth, Rubio. Enough of this shit already - we need to know what's happened.
@jamiedupree
Jamie Dupree on x
Zelenskyy tells reporters that US restrictions are still in place on Starshield/Starlink for Ukraine's armed forces, complicating combat operations and drone defense
@amy_siskind
Amy Siskind on x
Disgusted with Trump and Musk, but also with Republicans in Congress. You should go back into session and actually do something!
@billbrowder
@billbrowder on x
Unbelievable and shameful.
@gerashchenko_en
Anton Gerashchenko on x
President Zelenskyy: “Starlink shuts down at speeds above 161 km/h in Ukraine, but works at speeds exceeding 180 km/h in the EU” President Zelenskyy said Ukraine had conducted tests to determine whether SpaceX was experiencing technical issues or whether this was a
@ambbridgetbrink
Bridget Brink on x
A year and a half ago Trump stopped helping Ukraine defend itself, and put pressure on Zelenskyy to make a deal with Russia. Now, Trump is actively supporting Putin: waiving sanctions, disrupting StarShield, and making a diesel deal. (1/3)
@jimmysecuk
Jimmy Rushton on x
Multiple sources have contacted me tonight confirming there are new “technical issues” with Ukraine's Starshield satellite internet terminals, which have resulted in the loss of multiple Ukrainian drones.
@phillipspobrien
Phillips P. OBrien on x
People need to accept that the USA is an active ally of Russia now.