Zelensky says Musk-owned satellite system throttled again, Space X denies it
The Ukrainian military uses Starshield — the military version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications system — to control and operate its reconnaissance and to intercept drones.
- There has been no change." Driving the news: Ukrainian President Zelensky said Thursday he was briefed by the minister of defense and the commander of the Ukrainian military that "units have been recording significant disruptions to Starshield's operations" along the entire front line and in the parts of Ukraine occupied by Russia.
- Ukraine's charge d'affaires to the U.S., Denys Sienik, said the Starshield system shuts down when drones fly at more than 100 miles per hour.
- What they're saying: The bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus said in a statement that it was "extremely alarmed" by the reports of a Starshield slowdown and "demanding a full accounting" from the Trump administration and SpaceX.
The Ukrainian government has asked the Pentagon and SpaceX to explain new restrictions it says are disrupting the satellite system its military uses to intercept Russian drones.
State of play: Zelensky said the new restrictions began shortly before President Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met at the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.
- Kushner and Witkoff are expected to meet Zelensky later on Thursday in Dublin.
- "We are trying to establish all the circumstances with the American side." Zoom in: A Ukrainian official said the restrictions have been happening for three days.
- Catch up quick: Ukraine relies on two SpaceX satellite services.
- "The Ukrainian military have already investigated the circumstances, and these are not random errors but systematic speed restrictions," he wrote on X.
- "On the first day there were 10% limitations, on the second day 50%, and today 100% of the missions fail because of restrictions," the official said.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →