Ukraine is still experiencing disruptions to its Starlink satellite network despite US President Donald Trump’s claim that restrictions on the service had been reversed, sources within Ukraine’s defence ministry have told the BBC.
The sources said the military continued to record instances of drones losing connectivity at speeds of 161 kilometres per hour, or 100 miles per hour, disrupting military operations.
Trump said on Thursday that Elon Musk had restored the service, stating that the billionaire had “put it back”. However, Ukrainian defence ministry sources said there was “currently no confirmation that these restrictions have been lifted”.
The ministry said it was continuously monitoring the performance of both Starlink, the civilian satellite internet service, and Starshield, its more secure military-grade counterpart.
Last week, Kyiv reported restrictions on uplink speeds to low Earth orbit satellites, affecting the speed at which drones could operate. Ukrainian officials said drones travelling faster than 100 miles per hour were losing their connections.
Musk had denied responsibility for the slowdown, suggesting that Starshield, which Ukraine uses for some military operations, was controlled by the US military and that the Pentagon could be behind the disruptions.
The White House has repeatedly denied deliberately restricting the network in Ukraine.
When asked on Thursday whether he had contacted Musk to request the restoration of the service, Trump declined to say whether such a conversation had taken place but insisted that the restrictions had been reversed.
Ukraine relies on Starlink and Starshield for military communications, particularly in remote areas and along the battlefield. The satellite networks provide connectivity that enables drone operators to monitor targets in real time and operate interceptor drones.
One Ukrainian soldier told the BBC there was “simply no alternative” to Starshield, describing how connectivity had cut out earlier in the week while his unit was travelling in a vehicle at 80 kilometres per hour.
“I’ll tell you this much: God forbid they shut it off completely — it would be an absolute catastrophe,” the soldier said, adding that Ukraine needed a backup system to secure its communications and internet access.
Another soldier said Ukrainian forces had returned to previously established methods of communication when the network began experiencing problems but stressed that the speed offered by Starlink remained crucial to military operations.
“Even one or two seconds is critical when we can transfer data and orders faster,” the soldier said.
The reported disruptions emerged amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.
Trump has argued that the attacks on Russian oil refineries have contributed to higher global fuel prices. Kyiv maintains that the strikes target a major source of revenue for Moscow’s war effort.
Zelensky also said the United States had threatened to withdraw intelligence-sharing support if the strikes continued, a claim Trump later denied.
The dispute triggered a public exchange between the two leaders, with Trump suggesting Ukraine should have a new president, while Zelensky questioned Trump’s leadership.
Earlier on Thursday, before Trump announced that the service had been restored, Zelensky said Starlink’s operating speed had not been fully restored.
He said he was awaiting information from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had promised to respond within approximately 48 hours.
The Wall Street Journal subsequently reported that Trump had told Musk he was frustrated that Starlink speeds remained restricted and that the system had begun operating closer to normal following their conversation.
Boluwatife Enome
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