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Ukraine says Starshield speed restrictions returned as US envoys meet Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Starshield service was systematically slowed, while SpaceX denies any change. The disruption coincides with American envoys meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
In brief
- Zelensky says Starshield speeds were systematically restricted to 161 kilometers per hour, or 100 miles per hour.
- SpaceX denies any change to the service, telling Ars Technica “This is false. There has been no change.”
- The slowdown coincided with American envoys meeting Vladimir Putin in Moscow for peace talks.
- Ukrainian officials believe the restriction was reinstated to pressure Ukraine in peace talks with Russia.
Starshield slowdown
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine’s Starshield satellite service has been disrupted again, describing it as systematic speed restrictions rather than random errors. He said the speed limit is back at 161 kilometers per hour, which is 100 miles per hour. Zelensky said the slowdown significantly complicates intercepting Russian jet-powered drones and that some Russian projectiles have gotten through as a result.
US envoys in Moscow
The disruption coincides with an American delegation arriving in Moscow for peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky is scheduled to meet the two American envoys in Dublin on Friday. Ukrainian officials reportedly believe the limit was reinstated to put pressure on Ukraine in the latest round of peace talks with Russia.
SpaceX response
SpaceX denied the assertion that it slowed the service. The company’s media relations department told Ars Technica: “This is false. There has been no change.”
Background
In mid-October, Ukrainian officials said access to Starshield, the military-grade version of SpaceX’s Starlink service, was limited, with speeds reduced without warning. Service was later restored by October 24. The Center for Strategic and International Studies reported at the start of November that the incident underscores the risk taken on by nations when they rely on a service provided by a company for national security.
Why it matters
Ukraine depends on Starshield for tactical communications and for connecting civilians to the outside world. The timing of the slowdown, during US peace talks with Russia, raises questions about how commercial satellite services affect wartime diplomacy and national security.
Sources
- ft.com: Subscribe to read
- nationalsecurityjournal.org: Ukraine’s Starshield Slowdown Is ‘Not Random Errors but Systematic Speed Restrictions,’ Zelensky Says as US Envoys Meet Putin - National Security Journal
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
Questions readers ask
- What speed limit has Ukraine reported for its Starshield satellite service?
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the speed limit is back at 161 kilometers per hour, which is 100 miles per hour.
- When is President Zelensky scheduled to meet with American envoys?
- Zelensky is scheduled to meet the two American envoys in Dublin on Friday.
- How did SpaceX respond to claims that it slowed the Starshield service?
- SpaceX denied the assertion, stating in a message to Ars Technica: "This is false. There has been no change."
- Why does the timing of the Starshield slowdown matter?
- The disruption coincides with an American delegation arriving in Moscow for peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising questions about how commercial satellite services affect wartime diplomacy and national security.
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