Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reports Starlink improvement but highlights specific caveats
Illustrative photo: Starlink operates with restrictions in Ukraine (Getty Images)
By the end of the day, the quality of the Starlink "military package" connection for Ukrainian drones at speeds of up to 160 km/h improved. However, the restrictions remain in effect, according to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The ministry stated that SpaceX continued to maintain the 161 km/h restriction, adding that actual restrictions had been significantly lower throughout the day. However, it noted that the connection quality had improved at speeds of up to 160 km/h.
They added that contacts with partners and SpaceX regarding stable service conditions and preventing sudden restrictions are ongoing.
Starlink operation restrictions
Today, October 14, it became known that a serious problem had arisen with the operation of Starlink terminals.
Starshield terminals - the military version of satellite communication - ceased to function normally while in motion. The limit was set at only about 160 km/h. When this threshold was exceeded, terminals lost connection, and some units experienced disruptions even at lower speeds.
This also affected the operation of interceptor drones, which Ukrainian defenders use to shoot down Russian Shahed drones.
As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted, against the backdrop of such restrictions, Russia launched one of the most massive attacks on Ukraine. Since nightfall, the enemy has launched hundreds of strike drones.
Addressing Elon Musk, Zelenskyy called for correcting the error, which could lead to casualties among Ukrainians.
