Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the country’s use of the SpaceX satellite system owned by Elon Musk remains partially restricted, contradicting earlier signs that full service had been restored. These operational limits prevent the Ukrainian military from effectively deploying drones to intercept Russian attack drones and from delivering vital supplies to front-line soldiers.
Ukrainian officials are actively investigating whether the restrictions stem from a political decision made by the Trump administration or by Musk himself, having received conflicting accounts from both parties. According to a Ukrainian official, SpaceX representatives attribute the issue to a technical malfunction, while internal contacts suggest the directive originated from the White House. When Ukrainian representatives raised the matter with the White House, officials reportedly pointed to Musk.
Musk stated in a Wednesday social media post on X that the U.S. government was responsible for disrupting Starshield. He noted that Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government, asserting that any limits on speed or usage are ultimately determined by the U.S. military and the president.
President Trump stated on Friday that the White House played no role in restricting Ukraine’s use of the technology. However, a report published Friday by The Telegraph indicated that Musk had proposed throttling the Starlink and Starshield satellite networks utilized by the Ukrainian military, with a source familiar with the discussion noting that Trump did not push back against the suggestion.
A White House official disputed the media report, calling it totally false and reiterating that the administration did not slow down Starlink and that the service remains operational. Despite these assurances, Ukrainian officials maintain that the network is not fully functioning.
Prior to the restrictions, the Starlink and Starshield network operated effectively on drones traveling up to 400 kilometers per hour. Current limitations cap functionality at 161 kilometers per hour. Zelensky told reporters on Saturday that the Ukrainian military tested the system on Friday using vehicles in European Union countries. The vehicles traveled at 180 kilometers per hour without losing satellite connectivity, but the systems disconnected once the cars crossed into Ukraine and reached the 161 kilometers per hour threshold.
Based on these tests, Zelensky concluded that the restrictions are geographically enforced inside Ukraine while remaining inactive in European Union nations, describing the situation as a planned operation and expressing skepticism regarding SpaceX’s technical failure claims.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a differing perspective on Saturday evening before departing for a trip to India, stating that he is uncertain whether Zelensky understands the situation. Rubio maintained that no one within the U.S. government ordered Starlink to be slowed down, adding that the situation sort of happened and that the system is back up and running.
The Ukrainian military depends heavily on SpaceX’s Starlink satellite communications system for ground force communications, logistics, defensive drone operations, and reconnaissance. Reduced capacity directly hampers intelligence gathering, interceptor drone deployment, and long-range strikes against Russia. Ukraine relies on two distinct satellite systems: Starlink for general communications, ground forces, logistics, and defensive drones used to shoot down incoming threats, and Starshield, which is controlled by the U.S. government for offensive military operations. Ukrainian authorities confirmed that both systems have faced restrictions.
Amid these technical disputes, diplomatic discussions continue. Zelensky disclosed that on Friday, Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, spoke with Trump’s adviser and envoy, Jared Kushner, to address the satellite service issue. The two officials also discussed organizing a meeting between American and Ukrainian teams for the following week to advance talks regarding the latest Trump administration proposal aimed at ending the war with Russia.
