Ukraine in Talks With SpaceX and Pentagon to Lift Military Satellite Speed Cap

Ukraine is negotiating with SpaceX and the Pentagon to lift a speed restriction on its Starshield military satellite service, an adviser to President Zelenskyy said Friday, after the cap disrupted drone operations against Russia. The limit, imposed without warning, cuts connections for terminals moving faster than 160 kph, forcing Ukrainian interceptor drones to slow down and become more vulnerable to Russian weapons. The adviser called the issue political, not just technical, and said the decision's source remains unclear. SpaceX founder Elon Musk said the U.S. government controls Starshield, while President Trump denied ordering the restriction. Ukraine is also seeking alternative satellite providers and warning of a new threat from Russia's Rassvet network, which could enable real-time control of drones and missiles.