Zelenskyy: Ukraine probing fresh Starshield restrictions, calls them systematic speed limits
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is investigating fresh restrictions on SpaceX's Starshield satellite service, describing them as systematic speed limitations rather than random errors. He said the restrictions impose an effective speed limit of 161 kilometers per hour on terminals, disconnecting anything moving faster, which hampers Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian jet-powered drones. Zelenskyy said some strikes have gotten through because interception systems cannot reach sufficient speeds in time. The comments came as U.S.-brokered peace talks wrapped up in Abu Dhabi without a major breakthrough, and U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The envoys were met by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev and were later expected to meet Zelenskyy on the sidelines of a political summit in Ireland. CNBC said it reached out to SpaceX and the White House for comment.
Source report
CNBC has reached out to SpaceX and the White House for comment.
Starshield is SpaceX's satellite network for government and national-security use, built on Starlink technology.
Ukraine Reports Widespread Disruptions
"Our units have been recording significant disruptions to Starshield's operations over the territory of Ukraine for several days now – along the entire front line and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," he wrote on X early Thursday.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was investigating what he described as fresh restrictions on SpaceX's Starshield service over the country, after similar speed limitations were imposed last month.
"The Ukrainian military have already investigated the circumstances, and these are not random errors but systematic speed restrictions," he said.
Speed Limits Hinder Interceptions
Zelenskyy said the restrictions imposed an effective speed limit on terminals of 161 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour), disconnecting anything that was moving faster.
He added this made it harder for Ukraine to intercept Russian jet-powered drones.
"There have already been strikes that got through because our interception systems cannot reach sufficient speeds and are unable to intercept in time."
Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
The comments came as U.S.-brokered peace talks wrapped up in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow for further talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Witkoff and Kushner were met by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev as they arrived at Vnokovo Airport on Thursday morning, according to Russian state news agency Tass. The pair were expected to discuss a lasting resolution to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has now raged for more than four-and-a-half years.
Later on Thursday, Witkoff and Kushner are poised to meet with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of a political summit held in Ireland.
Trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates between Ukrainian, Russian and American negotiators ended earlier this week without a major diplomatic breakthrough on a ceasefire or territorial settlement.
Source
Top stories - Google NewsWestern
Part of this Story
Zelensky says Starshield speed limits resumed, hampering Ukraine's drone defenses