Starlink and Starshield: Why Ukraine depends on Musk's satellites

Ukraine accused the United States of withdrawing vital intelligence and weakening the Starlink communications service during the Russian invasion, amid tensions with President Donald Trump over strikes on Russian oil facilities. The disruption hampered frontline operations and medium-range strikes. Ukrainian officials reported Starshield, the military version of Starlink, was slowed nationwide, with a speed limit of 160 kph imposed on terminals. This affected drone guidance systems and defense capabilities, though functionality was restored on Thursday. Poland, which pays for Ukrainian subscriptions, criticized Elon Musk over the disruption. Musk stated Starshield is owned and controlled by the US government, while Starlink is a commercial service. The incident highlighted Ukraine and Europe's heavy dependence on US space capabilities, with European officials urging development of alternatives like the EU's planned IRIS² satellite constellation.