SpaceX restricted Ukraine's military Starlink terminals without warning, Defense Ministry sources say
SpaceX imposed new speed restrictions on Starshield satellite internet terminals used by Ukraine's military overnight on October 14, without advance notice, sources in Ukraine's Defense Ministry told hromadske.
Under the restrictions, terminals lose connectivity when the vehicles or drones carrying them exceed certain speeds. The thresholds reportedly vary between units and platforms, ranging from approximately 72 to 161 kilometers per hour (45–100 mph).
The changes have disrupted Ukrainian drone operations, including interceptor and medium-range strike missions, as well as frontline logistics, reconnaissance and communications relay capabilities, the sources said.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry is contacting the United States, SpaceX and NATO partners while collecting reports from military units and working to establish backup communications channels.
Ukraine's 7th Air Assault Corps separately reported that drones lose connectivity for 10–20 seconds at speeds of 110–120 kilometers per hour (68–75 mph), making them more vulnerable to Russian interception.
The corps said one of its unmanned systems units operating in the Huliaipole sector had already been forced to cancel some missions because of the disruptions.
Ukrainian volunteer Serhii Sternenko and presidential technology adviser Serhii Beskrestnov, known as Flash, previously reported the restrictions.
The changes come after SpaceX owner Elon Musk publicly supported US President Donald Trump's criticism of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries. Musk wrote on X that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had “gone too far.”
There is no confirmed evidence that the restrictions were introduced in response to those political disagreements.