Ukraine is asking SpaceX to restore Starshield service capabilities after a reported speed restriction disrupted connectivity for Ukrainian forces. A source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that Kyiv sought an explanation from the company and said the change was causing operational problems.
According to the source, the restriction was introduced without advance notice. Ukrainian forces noticed connectivity issues overnight, contacted SpaceX customer support and were told service would be limited on platforms traveling at 100 miles per hour or faster. The source said Ukraine’s arrangements for Starshield, contracted through the U.S. government, are scheduled to continue until May 15, 2027.
The service change is relevant to Ukrainian aircraft, helicopters and drones that use satellite connectivity while moving. Ukraine’s forces use drones in efforts to intercept Russian attacks, including newer jet-powered Shahed drones. Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on defense technology, warned that the restrictions could undermine one of Ukraine’s few ways to defend against those drones.
A Ukrainian military unit has reported disruption on the battlefield. The 7th Rapid Response Corps said an unmanned systems unit operating on the Huliaipole front had to cancel missions because of connectivity problems. It also reported interruptions when drones were traveling below the stated 100 mph cutoff. The material does not independently establish the cause of those interruptions or how broadly they have affected Ukrainian operations.
Kyiv told SpaceX that the speed restriction had not applied to its terminals previously, the source said. Ukraine also pointed to the terms of its current U.S.-government arrangements, which the source described as covering fixed and mobile land-based uses, including mobile platforms. The source said SpaceX had not answered Ukraine’s request as of Wednesday morning.
The restriction has also drawn criticism from Poland’s foreign minister, Radislaw Sikorski. In a post on X, Sikorski challenged Elon Musk over the decision and said European customers were watching. Poland pays for more than 2,900 Starlink terminals operating in Ukraine, according to the supplied report. Sikorski and Musk had clashed the previous year over Ukraine’s reliance on Starlink; Musk responded then with a personal insult, the report said.
Starshield is SpaceX’s national-security satellite service and is based on technology developed for Starlink. The Pentagon, through the U.S. Space Force, works with SpaceX on Starshield services and has a role in administering the government’s agreements with the company. However, the existence of a Pentagon contract does not clarify whether the military or SpaceX controls particular operating restrictions, including the reported speed limit.
Fox News Digital said it contacted the Pentagon, the White House and SpaceX for details. The supplied material reports no public confirmation that Musk personally ordered the restriction. It also provides no response from SpaceX or the U.S. government explaining the rationale, scope or decision-making behind the change.
