SpaceX Speed Limits on Starlink Terminals Disrupt Ukrainian Drone Missions, Zelensky Aide Says

Newly imposed restrictions on the speed at which Ukrainian military assets can remain connected to SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet network have disrupted battlefield operations, according to an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Serhiy Beskrestnov said the limits were introduced overnight without prior notification to Ukrainian authorities, adding to concerns about the reliability of a system Kyiv depends on heavily for both offensive and defensive operations.

In a post on Telegram on Wednesday, Beskrestnov said SpaceX had "implemented overnight a speed limit on Starlink terminals," and that the change had already caused "the disruption of a number of missions." He described the restriction as a speed cap of 100mph (160km/h). A source in Ukraine's defence ministry later confirmed to the BBC that restrictions affecting Starlink connectivity were detected at speeds above 160km/h, and that the root cause was still being investigated.

Defence ministry sources explained that once a vehicle or asset exceeds the 160km/h threshold, the terminal loses its connection. They said this made it harder to conduct drone operations, particularly those involving interceptors and middle-strike drones, and also degraded capabilities for front-line logistics, reconnaissance, and signal relaying.

Beskrestnov stressed that Starlink remains the most effective tool for enabling interceptors to shoot down Russia's newly developed jet-propelled drones. In a follow-up post, he argued that SpaceX's decision "cannot be a coincidence and is related to the current political situation." SpaceX has not commented on the reported restrictions. The company, owned by Elon Musk, has previously made decisions about Starlink access that carried significant battlefield consequences, including in February, when Musk's decision to deny Russian forces access to the network blunted Moscow's advance and caused confusion among Russian commanders.

The timing of the restrictions has raised questions in Kyiv, coming amid heightened diplomatic tension over US support for Ukraine. Zelensky has said that the United States threatened to restrict intelligence sharing if he did not sign up to President Donald Trump's proposed energy ceasefire. On Tuesday, Trump denied that Washington was withholding intelligence. Ukraine relies on US satellite systems to track Russian missiles in order to issue alerts and attempt intercepts.

The restrictions were reported as Ukraine endured a second consecutive night of deadly Russian missile and drone strikes. At least 600,000 people across the country were left without electricity after overnight attacks, Zelensky said. He added that "critical" energy infrastructure had been hit in Kyiv, the capital region, and the north-eastern city of Kharkiv. Three people were killed in Kyiv, according to local officials.

The strikes came despite Trump's claim on Sunday that an "energy ceasefire" was in place between Russia and Ukraine. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!" Zelensky has since repeatedly said Ukraine is ready to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities if Moscow does the same.

Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, however, said Ukraine does not deserve the "respite" a ceasefire would bring. He added that under any truce, Europe would be able to "pump [Ukraine] with new weapons," enabling it to continue the war. Russia's defence ministry said its "massive" strikes had hit communications and energy facilities used by Ukraine's military. Moscow also said 902 Ukrainian drones had been shot down overnight over a number of Russian regions, including the capital Moscow and Crimea, the southern peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.

According to Ukraine's air force, Russia launched 39 ballistic and cruise missiles and 128 drones overnight. Four of those missiles and 115 drones were shot down, it said. The missile barrage struck targets in the Ukrainian capital without any warning over the past two nights, before air raid sirens could be sounded. That gap in early warning has raised concerns about the effectiveness of air defence systems that depend on timely intelligence and satellite tracking.

Later on Wednesday, at least six people were killed in a Russian drone strike on a warehouse in the north-western city of Lutsk, local officials said. The attack underscored the continuing danger to civilians far from the front lines. Pictures from Kyiv showed residents, some dressed in their pajamas, with bloodied faces in the aftermath of strikes.

For residents of the capital, the past two nights have been frightening. Tetiana Storozhyk, 54, said a late-night blast on Tuesday at her apartment block caused her to lose everything "in a fraction of a second." Her account reflected the wider toll on civilians as the war, launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin with a full-scale invasion in 2022, continues with Moscow controlling roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.

The Starlink system has become a vital tool for Ukrainian troops, providing internet access, guiding drones to Russian targets, and helping protect Ukrainian skies. Its importance has made any change in service conditions a matter of national security. Analysts say the reported speed limits could complicate the use of fast-moving interceptor drones, which are increasingly needed to counter Russia's evolving drone technology, including jet-propelled models.

Ukrainian officials have not said whether they believe the restrictions are permanent or temporary. The defence ministry source said the root cause was still being investigated, leaving open the possibility that the limits could be technical rather than deliberate. But Beskrestnov's public linking of the move to the "current political situation" suggests Kyiv sees the timing as significant, especially as Zelensky prepared to meet UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at Downing Street on Wednesday to discuss accelerating air defence supplies to Ukraine.

The convergence of battlefield restrictions, diplomatic uncertainty, and continued Russian strikes has left Ukraine balancing military needs against reliance on foreign partners and private companies. With winter approaching and energy infrastructure under attack, the pressure on Kyiv's air defences and its ability to coordinate operations is likely to remain intense. Whether the Starlink restrictions are resolved quickly could shape not only drone missions but also the broader confidence Ukrainian forces place in the connectivity that underpins much of their modern warfare.