No warning from SpaceX: Ukraine complains about sudden Starlink restrictions

The Ukrainian military’s access to the Starlink satellite internet has been significantly restricted without warning. This is reported by various media outlets, such as the Kyiv Independent, citing government officials or individuals with close ties to the military of the state, which is currently defending itself against Russia’s war of aggression under particularly difficult conditions.

According to presidential advisor Serhii Beskrestnov, the space company SpaceX, owned by US billionaire Elon Musk, has introduced restrictions for Starlink terminals, which will no longer function reliably above 160 km/h. The military service package StarShield is affected. This has already had concrete consequences for drone warfare. A military unit has publicly stated that missions had to be canceled due to connection problems.

Trump puts pressure on Ukraine

The Ukrainian military has long relied on Starlink to control drones remotely. It is currently unclear whether the current disruptions only impact Starlink antennas located on such fast-flying drones or whether there are further restrictions. There is also no information yet about possible background reasons.

“Obviously, this measure cannot be a coincidence and is related to the current political situation,” the Kyiv Independent quotes, but radio specialist Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov. He refers to recent threats by US President Donald Trump to withhold intelligence information and other aid from the Ukrainian leadership.

Trump, who is under pressure before the US midterm elections and due to the significantly increased energy prices as a result of the war against Iran, claimed on the weekend that Ukraine and Russia would refrain from attacking each other’s energy sector. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly showed openness to this but emphasized that Russia had not reciprocated so far. According to Zelenskyy, there were instead heavy Russian airstrikes on civilian targets and Ukrainian energy infrastructure after Trump’s announcement. On Wednesday alone, 600,000 households were without power due to massive Russian attacks, according to Zelenskyy. Several people were killed, the news agency further reports.

It is now apparently suspected in Ukraine that the restriction of Starlink could be related to these events. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has re-approached Donald Trump after their falling out. It only became known on Tuesday that he is supporting his party with enormous donations in the election campaign. Musk and Ukraine have clashed several times in the past over the military use of Starlink, but in the end, both sides were always able to reach an agreement. At the beginning of the year, SpaceX even disconnected mass numbers of Russian Starlink antennas, giving Ukraine an advantage. The talkative US billionaire has not yet commented on the events in Ukraine. According to Beskrestnov, Ukraine received no prior warning.

(mho)