Ukraine's military hit by sudden Starlink speed limits, raising security concerns
Ukraine's military operations were disrupted Tuesday night when SpaceX imposed a 100 mph speed restriction on Starlink services, causing weapons traveling faster to lose connectivity, though service was partially restored by Wednesday evening. The Ukrainian military received no advance warning, leading to several disrupted missions, according to presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Elon Musk of restricting access, while Musk stated the US military controls speeds for Starshield and that Starlink is restricted to civilian or defensive use. Starlink has been vital to Ukraine's military communications since 2022, supporting drones, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering. The restrictions came amid US pressure on Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, and follow earlier concerns about GPS jamming and foreign control of satellite networks.