Zelenskyy says Starlink speed limits block Ukraine from intercepting Russian drones

Ukraine remains unable to intercept Russian drones because of speed restrictions on Starshield, a military version of Starlink, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday, citing ongoing technical issues amid tensions with the Trump administration. Zelenskyy said Starlink shuts off in Ukraine after exceeding 161 km/h, while it works continuously at higher speeds in the EU, hampering drone operations and connectivity. He said Kyiv is in dialogue with U.S. officials and SpaceX, but no one is currently answering the military or defense ministry. President Trump denied limiting access, saying he didn't believe Elon Musk was responsible, while Musk stated the U.S. government controls Starshield usage. The restrictions follow recent U.S. sanctions waivers on Russian diesel, which Zelenskyy called "unfortunate," and Trump's criticism of the Ukrainian leader.