Zelensky: Starlink and Starshield speed limits in Ukraine still in place

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that speed restrictions on Starlink satellite communication terminals and their military version, Starshield, are still in force in Ukraine. He made the remarks in a video address to the Hudson Institute, a research organization based in Washington, according to Interfax-Ukraine. The issue affects battlefield communications for Ukraine's forces, and it comes amid a sharp deterioration in relations between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump.

What Zelensky said

According to the president, the speed has not been restored. Deliveries of interceptors meant to protect Ukraine against Russian ballistic missiles are also still delayed. Ukraine is waiting for interceptors that have already been agreed on, but they have not arrived. Zelensky said he hoped they were on the way and called the situation a real problem, since Russia attacks almost every day and does so on a massive scale.

He added that this is happening while Ukraine carries out what he described as quite successful operations at the front, and that the Starlink and Starshield restrictions have complicated matters. The front line is still holding, he said, and Ukraine is doing its best to keep logistics running and to continue defending itself.

Background

Ukrainian service members first reported the restrictions on October 14: the Starshield connection cut out when drones exceeded 160 kilometers per hour (about 100 miles per hour). Two days later, Trump said he had not ordered Starshield service in Ukraine to be restricted and did not know who could have done so.

The Telegraph, citing four sources, reported that Elon Musk had approached Trump with a proposal to restrict Starlink speeds in Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal later reported that Musk himself had ordered the Starshield restriction, and that Trump called Musk to ask him to lift it. Trump later said Musk had lifted the restrictions.