Starlink restrictions not lifted in Ukraine despite Trump's claims, defence officials say
Ukrainian forces continue to experience disruptions to critical battlefield communications despite Donald Trump's assertion that restrictions have been removed, raising fresh questions about Kyiv's dependence on an American-controlled satellite network.
Restrictions on Starlink and its military-grade version, Starshield, have not been fully lifted along Ukraine's front lines, Ukrainian defence officials said on Friday, despite US President Donald Trump's claim that Elon Musk had removed them.
Officials monitoring the systems said they continued to record instances of terminals losing connectivity when travelling at speeds of 161 kilometres per hour.
Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy known by his call sign Flash, confirmed that the restrictions remained in place.
"We are currently seeing no indication that the Starlink restrictions have been lifted," he wrote on Facebook on Friday.
"There are isolated cases when Starlink can operate at speeds slightly above the limit, but this is probably due to SpaceX's algorithms or particular conditions of use, rather than the restrictions being removed."
The statements follow a report by The Wall Street Journal that Trump called Musk on 21 October to request that he lift the restrictions on Starshield, the military version of SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications service.
Following the call, American and Ukrainian officials reported improvements in connectivity, although some cautioned that full functionality had not been restored.
Trump subsequently claimed that Musk had removed the speed restrictions but declined to confirm whether he had personally contacted the billionaire.
The disruption began without warning on 14 October, when Starshield terminals used by Ukrainian forces started losing connectivity as they approached speeds of around 160 kilometres per hour.
The unexpected restrictions disrupted military operations, including mid-range strike drone missions and the use of interceptor drones deployed to defend Ukrainian cities against Russian aerial attacks.
More than a week later, responsibility for the decision remains publicly disputed. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk had ordered the restrictions, while other accounts pointed to possible White House involvement. Trump has denied ordering the move, and neither SpaceX nor the US administration has publicly accepted responsibility.
The episode has exposed Ukraine's heavy dependence on Starlink, a critical component of its battlefield communications, drone operations and air defence, and the risks of relying on a satellite network controlled by a foreign provider.
Ukraine moves to reduce its dependence on Starlink
Ukraine is meanwhile seeking to develop its own satellite communications capabilities, in a move that could eventually reduce its reliance on SpaceX.
On Thursday, Ukraine's Defence Ministry signed a letter of intent with Finnish technology companies ICEYE and Nokia to explore cooperation on developing a sovereign satellite communications system.
Zelenskyy announced the agreement during Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's visit to Kyiv, describing it as "important for our defence and for the resilience of Ukraine".
The proposed systems would give participating countries ownership and control over their satellites, ground infrastructure and terminals, reducing their exposure to decisions taken by foreign governments or commercial providers.
"Ukraine needs secure, sovereign, and high-performance satellite communications systems that it controls," said ICEYE chief executive Rafal Modrzewski.
Mikko Hautala, chairman of Nokia Defense, echoed that message, saying the partnership would give Ukraine "control over the connectivity it depends on".
The agreement, however, remains at an early stage, leaving Ukraine reliant on Starlink for critical battlefield communications in the meantime.
