Restrictions on Starshield speed
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 13 that speed restrictions on the Starshield satellite communications system over Russian-occupied territories are "very dangerous" because they carry political implications for Ukraine’s sovereignty. These restrictions imply that the temporarily occupied territories are "not ours," Zelensky told journalists. The limits restrict Starshield’s operating speed to 161 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour). This speed limit hinders Ukraine’s ability to shoot down Russian strike drones that are usually intercepted over occupied territory before they reach government-controlled areas. Because Ukraine must now shoot drones down at other lines of defense, the restrictions give the Russians more opportunities to attack. Ukraine uses both commercial Starlink terminals and the militarized Starshield version for its operations. This year’s mid-range strike campaign allowed Ukraine to strangle Russian logistics and hampered Russia’s ability to advance on the front lines.
| Starshield Restriction Details | Data |
|---|---|
| Operating speed limit | 161 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour) |
| Duration of restrictions | Five days |
| Primary impact | Russian strike drone interception |
SpaceX told Axios, "This is false. There has been no change," and the company called the problem a "technical issue" that is "not imposing any restrictions." Zelensky disputed this. He said that Ukraine tests the connection in different directions every day and receives the same confirmation of the slowdown. The Defense Ministry spoke with SpaceX, but Zelensky said the company’s claim that it is not imposing restrictions does not line up with what his team tells him. He noted that these are not isolated cases, but widespread issues that have persisted for five days.
Congressional demands and US control
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Zelensky in an earlier conversation that Starshield is "more under the control of the U.S. government than of SpaceX." This statement makes the current restrictions problematic for Zelensky, as his team reports that SpaceX imposed them. The Congressional Ukraine Caucus, a bipartisan support group for Ukraine, demanded a full explanation from the Trump administration and SpaceX and called for the immediate restoration of full Starshield access for Ukraine. The group stated that Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and the rest of Europe is a vital national interest of the United States. The caucus demand follows reports that Starshield’s limitations affect Ukraine’s ability to strike targets in occupied zones.
