White House ordered Starlink restrictions in Ukraine

The White House appears to have ordered restrictions on the Starlink satellite system used by Ukraine's military, according to unnamed officials. The move has disrupted Ukrainian combat operations and drone missions. Pentagon leadership received the message that the military-grade Starshield service for Ukraine needed to slow down, Reuters reported on October 16. Three officials confirmed the directive originated from within the White House, though no specific individual was named. A senior US official denied President Donald Trump issued the order. Ukrainian officials reported Starlink terminals stopped working at speeds over 160 km/h starting October 13, without prior warning. A Ukrainian commander called it "no different from a nuclear attack on Ukraine," saying all operations were halted. Connections were later restored but capped at 160 km/h. Elon Musk stated Starshield is owned and controlled by the US government.