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Volodymyr Zelenskyy said speed limits imposed on Ukraine’s Starlink military systems were part of a “planned operation” aimed at undermining the country’s defenses.
The Ukrainian leader’s latest comments come against the backdrop of the sharpest deterioration in relations with US President Donald Trump since their explosive meeting in the Oval Office in February 2025 – and as Moscow steps up its air war against kyiv as winter approaches.
On Friday evening, Trump stopped short of imposing additional sanctions on Russia imposed by a sweeping law passed by Congress.
In a WhatsApp message to journalists on Saturday, Zelenskyy said Starlink terminals used by Ukrainian drone units operated at high speeds in the EU – up to 180 km/h – but cut out in Ukraine when flying above 160 km/h.
The maximum speed of Ukrainian drones equipped with Starlink systems was 161 km/h, he said, adding that “exceeding this limit leads to the complete cutting of the Starlink connection, leading to the loss of the drone.”
He said Ukraine had conducted tests to determine whether SpaceX was facing technical problems, as kyiv had told Washington, or whether the restrictions were a “planned operation … to restrict us, cut us off and prevent us from defending ourselves and our people, both at the front and among the civilian population.”
Ukraine “sent a few vehicles equipped with Starlink terminals to the territory of the European Union,” he said, without naming the countries where the tests were carried out.
“They were traveling at speeds in excess of 180 km/h and the Starlink systems were working perfectly. We have the relevant recordings and evidence to prove it,” he said.
“The conclusion is clear: the restrictions are in force in Ukraine but do not apply within the European Union. In other words, this is a planned operation.”
kyiv was blindsided by unexplained gaps in intelligence from its foreign partners about Russian ballistic missile strikes this weekend. This was followed by surprise restrictions on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet systems used by the Ukrainian military, particularly its drone units.
Ukrainian troops said they were forced to suspend operations due to speed limitations placed on the systems, making them vulnerable to Russian air defenses. Zelensky said Saturday that drone interceptors that Ukraine relies on to shoot down Russian jet drones had also been hampered.
He said Ukraine increasingly relied on its fighter jets to intercept drones, with a success rate of more than 50 percent.
Musk, who controls SpaceX, blamed restrictions on Starlink and Starshield – the military version of the system – on the Trump administration, noting that they were owned and controlled by the US government. He said any speed or usage limits would have been decided by the Pentagon or the president.
Trump said Friday that neither he nor Musk were responsible for the Starlink restrictions.
A bipartisan group of senators called in a letter to the Pentagon on Thursday for an investigation into the matter.
The intelligence gaps and limitation of Starlink came just before Trump backed away from imposing new sanctions on Moscow.
Zelensky said Trump’s decision to exempt Russia from additional sanctions and the Russia-US “diesel deal” would only be “the first step.”
Last week, Trump agreed to “immediately” supply 300,000 tons of diesel to the U.S. and global markets ahead of next month’s midterm elections.
Zelenskyy had hailed the Lindsey O Graham Act sanctioning Russia and Iran signed by Trump last month as a “major victory” but said on Saturday that “the lifting of sanctions will continue, unfortunately.” He said Trump’s decision to exempt Russia “only helps the Russians.”
“It certainly doesn’t stop the war,” he added.
Zelensky also discussed with European countries reports that Russia is trying to recover frozen assets “through some partners.”
“But as of today, the situation is under control,” the Ukrainian president said.
kyiv was also surprised by Trump’s announcement last Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an “energy ceasefire.” kyiv suspended its own long-range attacks on Russian refineries for three days after the announcement, but resumed its campaign amid continued Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
“We are done,” Zelensky told the FT.
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