Ukraine negotiates with US to lift Starshield speed limits, says advisor

Ukraine is negotiating with SpaceX and the Pentagon to lift a speed restriction on the Starshield military satellite communication system, according to presidential advisor Serhiy Beskrestnov (Flash) in an interview with Associated Press. The restriction, imposed without warning on October 15, interrupts data transmission when terminal speed exceeds 160 km/h, forcing Ukrainian drones to fly slower and making them easier for Russian forces to detect or evade. Beskrestnov said Ukraine cannot explain why the limit was introduced as Kyiv-Washington relations became strained, calling it a political issue. Ukraine relies on Starshield for drone operations, including intercepting Russian jets, and the restriction also affects helicopters chasing Shahed drones. Kyiv is seeking alternatives like Amazon's satellite network and Eutelsat's OneWeb, while officials remain uncertain whether the restriction stems from the Trump administration or SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.