Speed Limit Crisis in Starlink and Starshield Networks in Ukraine
In October 2026, drone connectivity issues occurred in Ukraine due to the slowing down of Starlink and Starshield satellites. Elon Musk stated that rules were violated, while it was announced that speeds have returned to normal.
Speed restrictions on SpaceX's Starlink and Starshield satellite networks used by the Ukrainian military in October 2026 caused disruptions in battlefield operations.
In early October 2026, Ukrainian forces began to notice speed limits on the Starshield internet terminals, which are critical in the war against Russia. This slowdown caused drones to lose connection and become unable to fly at operational speeds.
Following the discussions, Elon Musk admitted in a statement on October 24 that he had slowed down Starlink on the grounds that the Ukrainian military had violated terms of service by using the commercial service for offensive drone attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that as a result of work carried out during the night, Starlink and Starshield speeds were restored to their previous levels. On the other hand, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the US government or the Pentagon had not given any instructions to intentionally disrupt Ukraine's drone operations.
Sources
- cbsnews.com · Link