SpaceX restricted the operating speed of Starlink satellite internet terminals used by the Ukrainian military on the night of October 14, according to Vladimir Zelensky adviser Sergey Beskrestnov.
In a Telegram post, Beskrestnov said the company introduced a speed limit for Starlink terminals while they are in motion. He said the restriction applies to the StarShield military service package and is set at 100 miles per hour.
According to the adviser, Ukrainian defense agencies received no advance warning about the change. He said the communications restrictions disrupted a number of operations and claimed that SpaceX acted at the request of the administration of U. S. President Donald Trump.
Earlier on October 14, former adviser to the Ukrainian defense minister Sergey Sternenko also reported problems with Ukrainian military access to Starlink. He said he believed the restrictions had been introduced at the request of the U.S. administration.
Politico had previously reported that Trump could halt the transfer of U.S. intelligence to Kiev or try to pressure SpaceX owner Elon Musk to shut down Starlink over Ukraine.