Zelensky says Musk-owned satellite system still restricted in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine's use of the Elon Musk-owned SpaceX satellite system remains partially restricted, contradicting earlier indications this week that full service had been restored. The current limitations prevent the Ukrainian military from using drones to intercept Russian attack drones and from employing drones to transport supplies to front-line soldiers, according to Zelensky.

Ukrainian officials are attempting to determine whether the restrictions stem from a political decision by the Trump administration or from SpaceX itself. Officials have received conflicting accounts, with the Trump administration and SpaceX executives blaming one another. A Ukrainian official told Axios that while SpaceX describes the issue as technical, internal company contacts indicate the directive comes from the White House, which in turn attributes the action to Musk. Musk asserted in a Wednesday post on X that the U.S. government controls Starshield systems and that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately President Trump.

The Telegraph reported on Friday that Musk proposed to Trump throttling the Starlink and Starshield networks used by the Ukrainian military. A source familiar with the discussion told Axios that Trump did not object to the proposal. However, a White House official denied the Telegraph's account, calling it totally false and stating that the service is currently operational. Zelensky disputed this characterization, noting that the service is not fully functional.

Before the restrictions, the Starlink and Starshield networks operated on drones traveling at 400 kilometers per hour. Ukrainian officials say the system is now capped at 161 kilometers per hour. On Friday, the Ukrainian military tested the system in vehicles within European Union countries. The vehicles traveled at 180 kilometers per hour without interruption. When the vehicles entered Ukraine, the satellite connection dropped at 161 kilometers per hour. Zelensky concluded that the restrictions apply only inside Ukraine and not in EU countries, describing the situation as a planned operation. He expressed skepticism regarding SpaceX's claim that technical problems caused the speed limit.

The Ukrainian military relies on SpaceX's Starlink for communications, ground forces, logistics, and defensive drones that shoot down incoming threats. It uses Starshield, which is controlled by the U.S. government, for offensive military purposes. Ukraine stated that both systems are restricted. When these systems do not operate at full capacity, Ukraine's ability to gather intelligence, utilize interceptor drones, and conduct long-range strikes against Russia is impeded.

On Friday, Ukraine's chief negotiator Rustem Umerov spoke with Trump adviser and envoy Jared Kushner to discuss the Starlink issue, according to Zelensky. The two also discussed holding a meeting between U.S. and Ukrainian teams next week to continue discussions on the latest Trump administration proposal for a deal with Russia to end the war.