Ukraine is demanding a formal explanation from the United States after reports surfaced that the Starshield satellite communications system faces strict speed restrictions. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Nov. 13 that Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara and Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi are in direct contact with U.S. officials to clarify the situation. The military has experienced significant disruptions for several days, which Zelensky described as systematic rather than random errors. He wrote on X following briefings on Nov. 12 that these limitations allow Russia to kill more Ukrainians and carry out more accurate strikes against Ukrainian targets.
The 161 km/h limit
The core of the issue is a reported cap on operating speeds at 161 kilometers per hour, or 100 miles per hour. A source in the Ukrainian Defense Ministry told journalists on Nov. 13 that this restriction applies only over Russian-occupied territory and along the front line, not across the entire country controlled by Ukraine. Zelensky emphasized that the limit makes it "impossible" to use interceptors against Shahed-type drones effectively. A corps-level commander in Donetsk Oblast confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that the 160-kilometer-per-hour limit remains in place, making middle-strike drones easier for Russia to intercept or evade. This technical constraint directly impacts Ukraine’s ability to defend against incoming threats during its mid-range strike campaign.
SpaceX, the producer of the system, denied these reports to Axios, stating, "This is false. There has been no change." Elon Musk previously rejected responsibility for Starshield restrictions, noting that the militarized terminals are controlled by the U.S. government. Despite the denial, the bipartisan Ukraine Caucus in the US House of Representatives called on the Trump administration and Musk to fully restore access on Nov. 12. They argued that Ukraine’s ability to defend itself is a vital national interest for the United States. Zelensky stressed that some Russian strikes have already succeeded because Ukrainian interceptor systems could not reach the necessary speed to catch the targets in time.
