Ukraine Reports Fresh Starshield Speed Limits on Frontline, Zelensky Says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that his military is once again encountering speed restrictions while using SpaceX's Starshield military communications system, describing the disruption as a serious obstacle for frontline operations. Speaking ahead of the European Political Community Summit, he said the restrictions had persisted for several days and were affecting units engaged in active defense.

According to Zelensky, the limitations directly reduce Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian jet-powered Shahed drones. "This means more Russian strikes get through, and more of our people are killed by Russia," he said following a large-scale Russian barrage across the country. He added that Kyiv is seeking details from the American side but currently has limited information about the cause.

The latest disruption echoes an incident last month, when Ukrainian equipment traveling faster than roughly 100 mph experienced limited connectivity. That episode prompted a public dispute between SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk and the Trump administration, with each side suggesting the other was responsible for the restriction. President Trump had urged Musk to lift any limits on the internet service, and the administration later confirmed the systems were operating again.

Zelensky said the current problems are concentrated along the front line, where Ukrainian forces have held back Russian advances and, according to him, pushed back in 2026. He suggested the restrictions could be intentional, aimed at preventing his military from striking targets inside Russia, even though the frontline runs through occupied Ukrainian territory.

"If someone in America is making decisions that basically treat Ukrainian territory as if it is not Ukrainian, then this tells us where things are going," he said, referring to strained U.S.-led peace talks. He reiterated that Kyiv will not recognize Russia's occupation of Ukrainian land in any form.

The remarks highlight the growing dependence of modern militaries on commercial satellite networks and the complications that arise when private providers and government policy intersect. SpaceX has not publicly commented on the latest reported restrictions, and the exact technical or policy basis for the speed limits remains unclear.