Ukraine and US in talks over Starlink limits hampering drone defences

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that speed restrictions on SpaceX's Starlink service are preventing Ukrainian forces from effectively using interceptor drones against Russian attacks, and that Kyiv is in talks with US officials to resolve the issue. Zelenskyy told Reuters that Ukrainian officials were informed the restrictions stem from technical issues, but noted tests of Starlink in European Union territory showed no similar problems. The speed cap, imposed early Thursday, limits data connections when terminals move faster than 160 kph, affecting drones using the military Starshield version, and has forced Ukrainian drones to operate below usual speeds, increasing their vulnerability. Defence technology adviser Serhii Beskrestnov said Ukraine is negotiating with SpaceX, the Pentagon, and the US government to lift the restriction or switch to an alternative service, adding the issue is "also a political one." SpaceX founder Elon Musk said the US government controls Starshield, while President Donald Trump denied ordering the restrictions. The disruption comes amid renewed Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, with over 320 drones and missiles used in recent hours, and Ukraine is exploring alternatives like OneWeb and Amazon's network.