What happened?
Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, warned this week that Starshield (the military variant of Starlink) would not work for weapons travelling faster than 160 kilometres per hour.
Many Ukrainian drones have Starlink terminals built in and depend on the satellite system.
According to Beskrestnov, SpaceX introduced the speed limit without informing Ukraine in advance.
What is the difference between Starlink and Starshield?
Starshield was developed by SpaceX for the Pentagon. Its service is separate from Starlink’s commercial broadband service, but the distinction is sometimes blurred, The Guardian writes.
How does this affect Ukraine’s combat capabilities?
The restrictions effectively render useless the drones Ukraine uses to attack targets behind the front lines. This is because many Ukrainian drones depend on Starlink.
In addition, it will be more difficult for Ukraine to shoot down Russian “Shahed” drones heading towards Ukrainian cities. According to several media outlets, these drones travel at nearly 200 kilometres per hour.
According to Hans Livång, a professor of defence systems at the Swedish National Defence University, the restrictions will make it harder for Ukraine to carry out certain special operations.
"It means a dent in Ukraine's planned defence activities, but it doesn't completely eliminate them. And it's certainly possible to adapt, but it costs time and resources," Hans Livång tells TT.
Ukraine’s ability to attack deep inside Russian territory is not affected, according to Hans Livång. This is because long-range drones are pre-programmed and do not need an active link to the satellite network.
Who made the decision about the restrictions?
It’s unclear. SpaceX owner Elon Musk has said that the Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government.
"Any limitations on speed and use are decided directly by the US military and ultimately by the President of the United States," Musk writes on his X platform.
The White House has neither confirmed nor denied Musk’s statement, but the Trump administration has pressured Ukraine to stop attacking Russian energy infrastructure.
What reactions have there been?
In the US, Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee have condemned the restrictions and accused Trump of aiding Putin’s “slaughter of Ukrainian civilians.” Republicans have also criticised them.
“Supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty – or at least allowing it – should not be a gray area for the U.S. government or for American companies,” Republican Senator Thom Tillis writes on X.
