SpaceX restricts Ukrainian army’s Starlink access, Zelensky’s adviser confirms
The restrictions currently apply to the "military package" of Starshield services, with the speed limit set at 100 miles per hour, Sergey Beskrestnov said
MOSCOW, October 14. /TASS/. SpaceX restricted the speed of Starlink satellite internet terminals used by the Ukrainian army overnight, Sergey Beskrestnov, Vladimir Zelensky’s external adviser and expert in communications and unmanned systems, said.
"I confirm that SpaceX introduced speed restrictions for Starlink terminals in motion last night. The restrictions currently apply to the 'military package' of Starshield services, with the speed limit set at 100 miles per hour (about 160 kilometers per hour - TASS). Our defense forces received no warning about the restrictions, which disrupted a number of missions," he wrote on Telegram.
According to Beskrestnov, "this action cannot be a coincidence and has to do with the current political situation."
Sergey Sternenko, a former adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister, said earlier that the Ukrainian army’s access to Starlink had been restricted. He suggested that SpaceX had acted at the request of the US administration.
Politico Europe reported earlier that US President Donald Trump could cut off US intelligence support for Kiev or pressure Elon Musk to disable SpaceX’s Starlink internet service, on which Ukraine’s military heavily relies.