Ukraine reports Starlink speeds still throttled despite Trump's claim restrictions lifted

Ukraine reported Friday that SpaceX's Starlink satellite system still has throttled connection speeds, despite President Donald Trump insisting restrictions were lifted. Unnamed Defense Ministry officials told the BBC and The Kyiv Independent that speed caps remain on drone-mounted terminals exceeding 100 mph, hindering military air defenses and offensive operations. The Trump administration denied claims that it or the Pentagon requested the restrictions, with Trump saying Thursday that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had restored access. However, Ukrainian sources said there is no confirmation of this, noting the 100 mph cap remains, severely limiting mid-range strikes and high-speed drone interceptions. The restrictions began Oct. 13, two days after Trump announced a unilateral energy cease-fire, coinciding with curtailed U.S. intelligence-sharing that left Ukrainian cities exposed to Russian strikes. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Tuesday that intelligence-sharing has resumed and is operating normally, providing crucial early warning for air raid sirens.