White House orders limits on Starshield satellite use in Ukraine

The White House ordered a slowdown of the Starshield satellite system used by Ukraine for battlefield communications and drone interception, according to Reuters, citing two American and one Western official. The directive was issued to the Pentagon. The decision followed President Donald Trump's demands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky halt attacks on Russian oil refineries. A US official denied Trump's involvement, saying he never made such a request, while the White House ignored questions about other administration officials. Ukrainian officials reported that the restrictions significantly complicated strike missions and drone operations against Russian forces. Starshield, developed by SpaceX from Starlink for government use, is owned and controlled by the US government, according to CEO Elon Musk. The slowdown began on October 13, 2026, with terminals disabling when drone speeds exceeded 160 km/h, making interceptions nearly impossible. Zelensky called the restriction a mistake leading to casualties and destruction.