Speed restrictions reportedly imposed on SpaceX’s Starlink satellite communications network have disrupted Ukrainian military operations, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned.
Serhiy Beskrestnov said Ukrainian troops were not informed about the overnight restrictions, which reportedly affected Starlink terminals travelling at speeds above 160 kilometres per hour.
A source in Ukraine’s defence ministry later confirmed the disruption to the BBC, saying it was complicating military logistics, unmanned systems and other operations. SpaceX has not publicly commented on the reported restrictions.
In a post on Telegram on Wednesday, Beskrestnov said SpaceX had “implemented overnight a speed limit on Starlink terminals”, adding that the move had already resulted in “the disruption of a number of missions”.
“It is clear that this action cannot be a coincidence and is related to the current political situation,” he added.
Beskrestnov also described Starlink as the most effective tool for enabling Ukrainian forces to use interceptor drones against Russia’s newly developed jet-powered drones.
The Ukrainian defence ministry source said authorities had detected restrictions affecting connectivity at speeds above 160 kilometres per hour, although the precise threshold was still being verified.
“This situation is significantly complicating operations, particularly logistics, unmanned systems, middle-strike missions, and other activities,” the source said, adding that the root cause was being investigated.
The reported disruption comes as Ukraine faces another wave of Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure. President Zelensky said at least 600,000 people had been left without electricity following overnight missile and drone strikes.
He said critical energy infrastructure had been hit in Kyiv and the surrounding region, as well as in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, despite US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Sunday that an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine had taken effect.
Local officials said three people were killed in Kyiv. Russia, meanwhile, said its large-scale strikes had targeted communications and energy facilities used by the Ukrainian military.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia had launched 39 ballistic and cruise missiles and 128 drones overnight, adding that four missiles and 115 drones had been intercepted.
The attacks marked the second consecutive night of Russian missile strikes on Kyiv. Ukrainian officials said ballistic missiles had struck the capital during the previous two nights before air-raid sirens could sound.
Ukraine relies on satellite-based systems to help track incoming Russian missiles, issue alerts and support air-defence efforts.
The reported Starlink restrictions also follow earlier action by SpaceX to deny Russian forces access to the network, which, according to previous reports, disrupted Russian military communications and operations.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry said 902 Ukrainian drones had been shot down overnight over several Russian regions, including Moscow and Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.
The developments come amid uncertainty over the proposed energy ceasefire. Trump announced on Sunday that both sides had agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, urging them not to violate the arrangement.
Zelensky has said Ukraine is prepared to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries and other energy facilities if Moscow does the same. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine did not deserve the respite a ceasefire would provide, arguing that a pause could allow European countries to supply Kyiv with additional weapons.
Zelensky has also said the United States threatened to restrict intelligence-sharing if Ukraine did not agree to Trump’s proposed energy ceasefire. Trump denied on Tuesday that Washington was withholding intelligence.
The dispute over Starlink comes as Ukraine continues to depend on satellite communications for battlefield coordination, drone operations and military connectivity, while Russia maintains control of about 20 per cent of Ukrainian territory following its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Boluwatife Enome
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