Zelenskyy says Starlink speed restrictions persist, hampering Ukrainian drones and front-line logistics
Starlink and Starshield equipment used by Ukrainian forces continues to stop working at speeds between 130 and 161 kilometers per hour (81–100 mph), disrupting battlefield logistics and limiting the use of certain drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on October 19.
Zelenskyy said the problem was reported by military units across different sections of the front line during a briefing from Ukraine's commander-in-chief, Mykhailo Drapatyi.
The restrictions particularly affect medium-range strike drones and interceptors designed to counter fast-moving Russian Shahed drones, he said.
"This slows down our front-line logistics and limits the use of various types of drones," Zelenskyy wrote.
"Speed matters when it comes to protecting lives," he added, saying Ukrainian officials would raise the issue again with international partners at multiple levels on Monday.
The latest statement indicates that the restrictions remain unresolved despite earlier reports of a partial restoration of service.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry said SpaceX restricted the operation of Starshield terminals, a military communications service associated with Starlink, without warning overnight on October 14.
The restrictions affected equipment operating while in motion. Ukrainian officials subsequently reported that some functionality had been restored, and on October 15 the Defense Ministry said mobile Starshield service was beginning to recover.
SpaceX owner Elon Musk said Starshield was owned and controlled by the U.S. government. The White House denied ordering the restrictions and attributed the disruption to a technical malfunction, according to Axios.
The precise cause of the continuing speed-related restrictions has not been independently established.