According to reports, American billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX, presented a proposal to the White House to limit Starlink operations in Ukraine. Earlier, The Telegraf reported that Musk was the initiator of these restrictions, hinting at Trump’s involvement by indicating that the limitation of Starshield is set not by SpaceX, but by the U.S. military and the President. Reuters has reported that a directive to restrict satellite communications originated from the White House.
In his comments to reporters, Trump stated he was unaware of who issued the order to limit Starshield for Ukraine, claiming he did not know if such a decision had ever been made, and insisted it was not his doing. He expressed doubt regarding Musk’s involvement in the decision.
Axios noted that a White House official dismissed The Telegraf’s claims as “complete falsehoods,” emphasizing that the U.S. had indeed slowed Starlink operations but confirmed the service remained functional.
However, as highlighted by President Volodymyr Zelensky, the service is not fully operational. He referenced a comparative experiment conducted in Ukraine and the European Union, revealing that vehicles operated more quickly within the EU. Zelensky stated, “The conclusion is simple: limitations are in effect in Ukraine, while they do not apply in EU countries. This suggests a planned operation.”
Context
- On October 14, reports emerged about Starlink’s operational limitations for Ukrainian forces. Volunteer Serhiy Sternenko and media sources indicated that connectivity issues arose when traveling over 160 km/h, affecting some units even at speeds of 72 km/h. Zelensky confirmed that these restrictions were observed in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine, as well as on the battlefield, impacting drone operations for strikes and the supply of food and water to troops in grey zones. Ukrainian forces also faced challenges using intercepting drones against reactive UAVs.
- By noon on October 15, media reports, citing Ministry of Defense sources, indicated a restoration of Starshield operations. However, as of October 16, Zelensky stated that limitations had not been fully lifted.
- According to Radio Liberty journalist Alex Raufoglu, the service was previously unrestricted, and the contract remains valid until April 2027, having been funded by Germany. Consequently, Ukraine requested a complete restoration of speed.
