Ukrainian defence officials said on Friday that restrictions on Starlink and its military-grade variant, Starshield, have not been fully lifted along the front lines, contradicting US President Donald Trump's assertion that Elon Musk had removed them. Monitors of the systems continue to record instances of terminals losing connectivity when travelling at speeds of 161 kilometres per hour, according to officials tracking the equipment.
Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy known by his call sign Flash, confirmed that the restrictions remain 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.
Ukraine moves to reduce its dependence on Starlink
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. In response, Kyiv is 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 move comes amid broader European concerns about reliance on American-controlled infrastructure. The episode has also raised questions about the reliability of US-backed technology in the context of Trump's embrace of Putin, which has alarmed Kyiv and European capitals. Meanwhile, NATO's AI systems have faced similar scrutiny over potential vulnerabilities.
For Ukraine, the immediate priority remains restoring full connectivity for its forces. But the longer-term goal is clear: to build a satellite network that Kyiv controls, reducing the risk of being cut off by decisions made in Washington or by a private company. As Beskrestnov noted, the current situation is a stark reminder of the fragility of relying on a single provider, especially one that can be switched off at a moment's notice.
