Starshield limits in Ukraine persist; SpaceX denies role

Starlink's Starshield satellite communication speed restrictions in Ukraine have entered their fifth day, preventing Ukrainian forces from intercepting Russian Shahed drones near the front line. The issue was reported by RBC-Ukraine citing Radio Liberty journalist Alex Raufoglu, who spoke with Ukraine's chargé d'affaires in the US, Denys Senik. Senik stated the disruptions are widespread, with daily checks across various directions yielding consistent results. Due to the restrictions, Ukrainian forces can only intercept Russian drones after they enter Ukrainian-controlled territory, giving Russia leverage it previously lacked. The problems emerged on November 12, when President Zelensky reported speed limits of up to 161 km/h along the front line and occupied territories. The Defense Ministry has requested explanations from SpaceX and the Pentagon, with checks confirming restrictions across all temporarily occupied territories but not on Ukrainian-controlled land. Zelensky believes SpaceX, not the US government, imposed the limits, while SpaceX denies involvement.