Zelensky appealed to SpaceX over Starlink disruptions
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on SpaceX to restore full operation of Starlink satellite communications for Ukrainian military. According to him, the imposed restrictions may lead to numerous human casualties, since the system is necessary for protecting the population from Russian air attacks.
The head of state stated this on October 14 in an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, a fragment of which was published on social network X.
Zelensky called the decision to restrict Starlink a serious mistake. The president emphasized that the Ukrainian military understands the technical causes of emerging communication problems and their possible consequences.
"This is a big mistake. Such a decision will lead to numerous human casualties. If attacks continue and Starlink doesn't work, it won't help," — said Zelensky.
According to the president, Ukraine hopes for restoration of access to satellite communications and hopes that what happened is related to technical problems, not an intentional decision to limit the capabilities of the Ukrainian military.
"I sincerely hope that this is a mistake. Possibly some serious technical problem, I don't know. But we ask to turn it back on. I think that would be honest and fair, as it should be between partners," — emphasized Zelensky.
Problems with Starlink arose on the night of October 14. Presidential adviser on technological issues Serhiy Beskrestnov reported that SpaceX, without prior warning, restricted the operation of terminals of the military package Starshield while in motion.
Initially, the restriction was 100 miles per hour, or approximately 160 km/h. When exceeding this speed, terminals lost connection. Subsequently, the Ukrainian military began reporting disruptions even at lower speeds — about 60–70 km/h.
According to Beskrestnov, the changes have already led to the disruption of a number of military operations. Especially serious problems arose with the use of drones, which require stable satellite communication for their control.
The restrictions also affected the use of interceptor drones used to counter Russian strike drones. Meanwhile, ordinary stationary Starlink terminals continue to operate.
As "Ukrainska Pravda" reported, citing sources in the Ministry of Defense, the Ukrainian military department maintains contacts with representatives of the USA, NATO, and SpaceX to clarify the reasons for the restrictions and to restore necessary communication capabilities.
In parallel, specialists are checking backup communication channels and collecting information from military units about the consequences of the changes.
Elon Musk previously stated that the military Starshield system is under the control of the US government, not directly SpaceX. At the same time, the official reason for the introduction of new restrictions has not been publicly explained.
Zelensky's statement came amid deteriorating relations between Kyiv and Washington. The administration of US President Donald Trump is demanding that Ukraine stop strikes on Russian oil refineries. Simultaneously, Kyiv has faced problems obtaining advance warnings about Russian missile attacks.
On October 14, Zelensky also announced his intention to discuss satellite communication and intelligence sharing issues with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The Ukrainian president emphasized that such unexpected restrictions complicate the country's defense amid ongoing Russian strikes.
Sources: Piers Morgan Uncensored, Ukrainska Pravda, The Guardian, Course of Ukraine.