Ukrainian military faces significant satellite internet disruptions
The Ukrainian military has experienced a renewed wave of “significant disruptions” to the Starshield satellite internet service, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday, hampering its ability to defend against Russia, reports BritPanorama.
Units have for several days reported speed restrictions affecting the entire front line and Russian-occupied parts of the country. Zelenskyy noted that a limit of 100 miles per hour is “being imposed on Starshield,” referring to the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink communications service.
“These are not random errors but systematic speed restrictions,” Zelenskyy stated. “For us, this primarily means a significant complication in intercepting Russian jet-powered drones.”
The system typically operates at a stable speed exceeding approximately 250 miles per hour. “Unfortunately, there have already been strikes that got through because our interception systems cannot reach sufficient speeds and are unable to intercept in time,” he added, mentioning that Ukraine is trying to clarify the reasons for the restriction with the U.S. side.
Ukraine first raised concerns last month regarding speed limits imposed on Starshield, which is crucial to its battlefield operations and air defenses. Starlink owner Elon Musk attributed the responsibility for the restrictions to former President Donald Trump, who has attempted to pressure Kyiv into making concessions to end the war. The U.S. government stated that any such decision could only have been made by Musk.
Trump has since denied involvement in the decision regarding the slowdown. The renewed issues emerged as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, following trilateral talks aimed at resolving the conflict in Abu Dhabi.
The interplay of military technology and geopolitical maneuvering continues to shape the landscape of the conflict, highlighting the complexities that both sides are navigating.
