The Ukrainian government has asked the Pentagon and SpaceX to explain new restrictions that it says disrupt the satellite system its military uses to intercept Russian drones.
Why it’s important: This is the second time in recent weeks that Ukraine has reported that Starshield, made by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has been interfered with.
- The Ukrainian military uses Starshield – the military version of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite communications system – to control and operate its reconnaissance and to intercept drones.
The other side: SpaceX responds to Axios: “This is false. There have been no changes.”
Driving the news: Ukrainian President Zelensky said Thursday he had been informed by Ukraine’s defense minister and army commander that “units have recorded significant disruptions in Starshield operations” across the front line and in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.
- “The Ukrainian military has already investigated the circumstances, and these are not random errors but systematic speed restrictions,” he wrote on X. “We are trying to establish all the circumstances with the American side.”
Zoom: A Ukrainian official said the restrictions had been in effect for three days.
- “The first day there were 10% limitations, the second day 50%, and today 100% of missions fail because of the restrictions,” the official said.
- Ukraine’s charge d’affaires to the United States, Denys Sienik, said the Starshield system shuts down when drones fly more than 100 miles per hour.
- “We don’t have any details from SpaceX or the Pentagon at this time,” he said.
State of affairs: Zelensky said the new restrictions began shortly before President Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Thursday.
- Kushner and Witkoff are expected to meet Zelensky later Thursday in Dublin.
What they say: The bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus said in a statement it was “extremely alarmed” by reports of a slowdown in Starshield and “demanding full accountability” from the Trump administration and SpaceX.
Catch up quickly: Ukraine relies on two SpaceX satellite services. Starlink, the commercial service, supports battlefield communications and logistics.
- Starshield is designed for government and military customers. Ukraine accesses it through a US government agreement and uses it to operate reconnaissance drones and intercept Russian attack drones.
- The Department of Defense and SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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