White House Ordered Slowdown of Starshield Service for Ukraine

The White House ordered a slowdown of SpaceX's Starshield satellite service for Ukraine's military, according to two US officials and a Western official, impacting Ukrainian drone and battlefield communications. The order was communicated to Defense Department leaders, though the specific White House official behind it remains unnamed. Ukrainian officials reported Starshield receptors malfunctioned on fast-moving objects, with speeds now limited to 100 mph, complicating strike missions and interceptor drone operations. The restriction follows US pressure on Kyiv to halt attacks on Russian refineries, amid deteriorating relations and a US-Russia diesel deal. A senior US official denied the president made the request, while SpaceX said the US government controls system limits.