Ukraine Says Starlink Restrictions Persist Despite Trump’s Claim That Limits Were Lifted

Ukraine has reported continued restrictions on its Starlink satellite communications services despite United States President Donald Trump claiming that access had been restored following concerns over disruptions affecting Ukrainian military operations.

Ukrainian defence officials said on Friday, October 23, that terminals were still experiencing connectivity problems, particularly when drones travelled at speeds exceeding approximately 160 kilometres per hour. The restrictions have affected military drone operations, including missions to intercept Russian aerial attacks and strikes against targets in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.

The disruption reportedly began around October 13, when Ukrainian forces started experiencing connection losses at higher speeds. Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has become a critical communications system for Ukraine, supporting battlefield coordination and drone operations during its war with Russia.

Trump said on Thursday that Musk had restored Ukraine’s access to the service, declaring that the restrictions had been lifted. However, Ukrainian officials said they had seen no general restoration of normal service. Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on defence technology, said isolated instances of terminals operating above the speed limit did not necessarily mean the restrictions had been removed.

Ukrainian officials also reported that the service had improved slightly in some areas, but disruptions continued. Zelenskyy said the speed limits remained in place and expressed hope that the United States and SpaceX would resolve the problem.

The disagreement follows reports that Trump contacted Musk to request the removal of the restrictions. The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that the president was frustrated that the speed limits remained in place. Trump later said he would address any continuing problem with Musk, although he did not confirm whether he had personally contacted the billionaire.

Responsibility for the restrictions has remained unclear. Musk has said that Starshield, the military-oriented satellite communications service related to Starlink, is controlled by the US government and that decisions about its speed and usage ultimately rest with the US military and the president. The Pentagon has also denied withdrawing support, while Ukrainian officials continue to seek an explanation for the disruptions.

The dispute has raised concerns about Ukraine’s dependence on a satellite network operated by a private company outside its control. Starlink has been instrumental in maintaining communications between Ukrainian troops and supporting drone operations, making interruptions potentially significant for battlefield effectiveness and air defence.

In response to the vulnerability, Ukraine has begun exploring alternatives. Its Defence Ministry recently signed a letter of intent with Finnish technology companies ICEYE and Nokia to examine cooperation on developing sovereign satellite communications capabilities.

However, the proposed alternatives remain at an early stage, leaving Ukrainian forces reliant on existing satellite services while officials continue discussions with Washington and SpaceX.

The latest developments underline the strategic importance of satellite communications in modern warfare and the challenges countries face when critical military capabilities depend on privately operated technology.