Zelensky: Starshield Restrictions Threaten Protection of Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure Before Winter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday, 15 November, that restrictions on the Starshield satellite communications system, managed by billionaire Elon Musk's company SpaceX, are preventing Ukraine from shooting down drones launched by Russia. In his words, this could weaken the protection of Ukraine's energy infrastructure during the winter months, when Russia repeatedly attacks such facilities.

The interceptor drone problem

Zelensky explained that Ukrainian interceptor drones near the front line lose contact with their operator when their speed exceeds 161 kilometres per hour. As a result, they cannot catch the Shahed attack drones launched by Russia.

In a social media post, the president wrote that Ukraine is counting on the restrictions being lifted, because the protection of lives and energy infrastructure before winter depends on it. He said the Foreign Ministry, the Defence Ministry and the Presidential Office have been instructed to work closely with the US side and SpaceX.

On Saturday, Zelensky questioned whether the problem is technical. He noted that the restrictions appear to have been imposed by SpaceX, despite earlier claims by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Starshield is largely under the US government's control.

Scale of Russian attacks

Zelensky said that over the past week Russia launched more than 2,300 drones, 1,590 guided aerial bombs and 15 missiles of various types at Ukraine.

Reaction in the United States

Democratic US senators have urged Musk to preserve all documents related to the restrictions the company imposed on Ukraine's use of the Starlink and Starshield satellite services. The Wall Street Journal reported this, citing a letter addressed to Musk. The letter lists service disruptions between 13 and 24 October and on 12 November.

Earlier, 105 members of the US House of Representatives' bipartisan Ukraine support group demanded that Donald Trump's administration and SpaceX restore Ukraine's full access to Starshield, citing reports of new restrictions.