Ukraine is negotiating with SpaceX and the Pentagon to remove a speed restriction on its military satellite communication service, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday, as Kyiv remains uncertain why the limit was introduced amid growing tensions with Washington.
The restriction, imposed without prior notice early Thursday, interrupts internet data connections when a communication terminal moves faster than 160 kilometres per hour (100 mph). The limit affects Ukrainian drones equipped with Starshield, the military version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite service, forcing them to fly more slowly and making them easier for Russian weapons to target or evade.
Serhii Beskrestnov, a defence technology adviser to Zelenskyy, told The Associated Press that the issue appeared to involve political considerations as well as technical and commercial factors. He said Ukraine could only speculate about who influenced the decision.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk said this week that Starshield is owned and controlled by the US government, with decisions about its use resting with the American military and ultimately President Donald Trump. The Pentagon did not respond to AP's questions about the restriction.
Trump told reporters Friday that he had not ordered the measure and did not believe Musk was responsible. He said the system appeared to be operating as it normally did.
Restriction adds to strained US-Ukraine relations
The development has further complicated relations between Kyiv and Washington, already strained by Trump's decision to import Russian diesel, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal, and what Zelenskyy described as a breakdown in Western intelligence sharing.
The speed limit disrupted Ukrainian frontline operations and increased the country's vulnerability to Russian jet-powered Shahed drones, which can fly at speeds exceeding 400 kilometres per hour (250 mph).
Ukraine had recently developed an effective way to counter the drones after weeks of sustained attacks that killed dozens of civilians. Starshield, which previously had no speed restriction, is used to control interceptor drones that pursue the faster Russian aircraft.
Beskrestnov said Ukrainian forces had demonstrated that the countermeasure worked before the unexpected restriction undermined its effectiveness.
The limit also affects Ukrainian helicopters used to hunt propeller-driven Shahed drones, he said.
Starshield underpins Ukrainian drone operations
Starshield plays a central role in Ukraine's drone operations. Beskrestnov described it as a military communications package managed by the Pentagon and the US government and made available to partner countries. It operates under separate fees and conditions from the civilian satellite service and provides a more stable, higher-priority connection.
He stressed that Ukraine does not use Starshield on Russian territory and that the service does not support Ukrainian drones attacking Russian oil refineries.
Ukraine began raising concerns almost immediately after the restriction took effect because so many military units depend on the network, making the disruption impossible to conceal, Beskrestnov said. He was the first Ukrainian official to publicly confirm the measure.
Communication outages soon followed the speed restriction, most likely because of the new limits. SpaceX resolved the connectivity problems after Ukraine reported them, but the speed cap remained in place.
Kyiv is negotiating with SpaceX, the Pentagon and the US government to remove the restriction or switch to a separate Starshield package designed for aircraft that has no speed limit. However, the aviation package is considerably more expensive, creating an additional financial challenge for Ukraine.
Beskrestnov said the outcome of the negotiations remained uncertain.
Ukraine explores alternatives to Starlink
Ukraine is seeking alternative satellite communication systems both as a precaution against losing access to Starlink and because Russia is developing ways to disrupt the network, Beskrestnov said. Russian forces are deploying electronic warfare equipment at various locations along the frontline to interfere with satellite communications.
Kyiv is examining other options, including a satellite network being developed by Amazon and OneWeb, operated by Europe's Eutelsat.
Satellite internet is important beyond battlefield operations, as it also connects civilians and helps maintain the morale of Ukrainian troops. Beskrestnov said Starlink was the only way for soldiers at many positions to communicate with their families.
Russia's Rassvet network raises new concerns
While Ukraine seeks to resolve the Starshield restrictions, Beskrestnov warned that Russia's emerging Rassvet satellite network could pose another major technological challenge for Ukraine and Europe.
He said he believed Russia was already developing the ability to control Shahed attack drones, reconnaissance drones and relatively inexpensive missiles, including the Banderol and Dan-M, through real-time satellite connections.
Such technology could allow Russian operators to steer drones and missiles directly, potentially undermining Ukraine's nationwide electronic warfare network, which is designed to jam their communications.
Beskrestnov warned that satellite-guided weapons could strike targets across Ukraine with greater precision and said Russia's satellites already provided temporary coverage over parts of the country for periods of 30 to 40 minutes as they passed overhead.
He estimated that continuous coverage could become available within about six months.
Ukraine is working on countermeasures, including sanctions, but faces difficulties because Russian engineers have been able to test their jamming technology against an operational Starlink system, while Ukraine must prepare defences against a Russian network that is not yet fully operational.
Beskrestnov said Ukraine needed to develop, mass-produce and deploy protective technologies before Russia began using the system to attack Ukrainian infrastructure.