Defence ministry sources in Ukraine report that restrictions on the Starlink satellite network remain in place, contradicting assertions by US President Donald Trump that service limits had been reversed by Elon Musk.
According to military officials, Ukrainian drones continue to suffer connection losses when traveling at speeds of 161 km/h (100 mph). Officials noted that uplink speeds to the satellite network were capped last week, causing higher-speed drones to lose signal and hampering defensive coordination as well as attack operations. Ukrainian defence sources stated they are continuously monitoring both the civilian Starlink service and the military-grade Starshield network, but have found no evidence that restrictions have been lifted.
Disputed Claims over Network Restrictions
The update follows statements from President Trump, who claimed on Thursday that Musk had restored full access to the system. While denying that he instructed Musk to limit the network, Trump stated that the tech billionaire had returned the service to normal. The White House has repeatedly denied deliberately imposing limits on satellite connectivity in Ukraine.
Musk previously denied responsibility for the operational slowdown, suggesting that the US military or the Pentagon held control over Starshield and could be connected to the issues. Meanwhile, reports from The Wall Street Journal indicated Trump had expressed frustration to Musk regarding capped speeds prior to the system’s performance improving closer to standard levels.
Diplomatic Friction and Strategic Reliance
The network disruptions coincided with diplomatic tensions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky concerning Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Trump voiced concern that attacks on Russian refineries were driving up global fuel prices, though price rises this year have been primarily attributed to the war in Iran. Zelensky noted earlier on Thursday that network speeds had not been fully restored and indicated he was awaiting further information from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Ukraine relies on a constellation of around 10,000 low Earth orbit satellites for battlefield communication, real-time target observation, and the deployment of interceptor drones in areas where traditional infrastructure is unavailable.
Source: BBC News
