Why Starlink matters for Ukraine's war effort

Advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Starshield, the military version of Starlink, has imposed speed restrictions making many Ukrainian drones inoperable, impacting combat capabilities. SpaceX introduced the speed limit without prior notice to Ukraine, affecting drones traveling faster than 160 kilometers per hour. This renders attack drones behind the front line unusable and hampers efforts to intercept Russian "Shahed" drones. The decision's origin is unclear; Elon Musk claims the U.S. government controls Starshield, while the White House hasn't confirmed. U.S. Democrats and some Republicans have condemned the restrictions, with experts noting Ukraine can adapt but at a cost of time and resources.