Ukraine reports that speed restrictions on the Starshield satellite system remain active, contradicting recent claims that limitations were lifted following a request from Donald Trump.
The performance caps affect high-speed drone operations by causing connectivity loss, presenting a significant hurdle for military coordination.
The situation underscores the operational dependencies on satellite networks for critical infrastructure and defense applications.
Sergey Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said in a Facebook post on Friday that no lifting of restrictions had been observed. The same day, a diplomat at the Ukrainian embassy in the United States confirmed that speed limits remain in place.
A day earlier, Trump had told a reporter that Musk had resumed operations, following a phone call he made to him on Wednesday asking him to remove the restriction.
How are Ukrainian drones affected?
The restriction appeared last week and concerns the military version of the service, known as Starshield, which Ukraine relies on to conduct drone operations against the Russian invasion.
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The speed limit can cause drones traveling at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour to suddenly lose satellite connectivity. This forces Ukraine to fly the craft at slower speeds, making them less effective and easier targets, while also affecting interception systems for Russian drones.
Who made the decision about the restrictions?
Last week, Elon Musk stated via social media that the Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government, and that the limits are decided by the US military and the presidency.
However, a report in The Wall Street Journal cited US officials as saying Musk acted alone. Another source said Musk spoke with top government officials, including Trump, before imposing the speed limit.
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