Ukraine's defense ministry contacts US, SpaceX and NATO over Starlink restrictions
Photo: Starlink in Kherson (Getty Images)
Ukraine's Defense Ministry is currently in contact with the US, SpaceX, and NATO partners. The ministry is collecting data from all units, as well as checking and activating backup communication channels, citing sources within the Defense Ministry.
The ministry is communicating with several parties at once: the United States, SpaceX, and NATO partners. It is collecting data from all units affected by the restrictions.
Backup communication channels are being checked and activated.
What is known about the restrictions
According to sources, on the night of October 14, SpaceX unilaterally restricted the operation of Starshield terminals (the "military package") while in motion, without prior notice to the Defense Forces. The limit is 160 km/h. When a vehicle exceeds the speed threshold, the terminal loses its connection. On different vehicles and in different units, the connection is lost at different speeds, ranging from approximately 72 to approximately 161 km/h.
This complicates the execution of UAV missions, particularly those involving interceptors and Middle Strike drones. It also reduces capabilities for frontline logistics, reconnaissance, and signal relaying.
Earlier, presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov ("Flash") reported that on the night of October 14, communication in the Starshield "military package" began to disappear at speeds above 160 km/h. According to him, this disrupted a number of missions, and the Defense Forces had not received any warning about the restriction.
The 7th Air Assault Corps reported that in the Huliaipole direction, communication during UAV flights could disappear for 10–20 seconds at speeds of just 110–120 km/h. Due to communication problems, one of the unmanned systems units had to cancel some missions. The problem is most acute when launching high-speed drones, such as Middle Strike, which need to reach high speeds at launch.
