Ukraine is in talks with SpaceX and the Pentagon to lift a speed cap on its military satellite communication service, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday, but the country has no explanation for why the restriction was imposed at a time when Kyiv is increasingly at odds with Washington.
asserted
Kyiv → lift → Washington
The cap, imposed without warning early Thursday, cuts the internet data connection when a communication terminal moves faster than 160 kph (100 mph), which is common for Ukrainian drones equipped with Starshield, the military version of the Starlink satellite service offered by SpaceX.
asserted
which → impose → service
The restriction forced the drones to fly slower than usual, making it easier for Russian weapons to target or evade them.
asserted
weapons → force → them
“But we now understand that this is not only a technical issue and not only a business issue, but also a political one,” Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to Zelenskyy, told The Associated Press in an interview.
asserted
Beskrestnov → understand → interview
“How this will develop, who will make this decision, who influences these decisions, we can only guess,” he said.
asserted
he → develop → decisions
SpaceX founder Elon Musk said this week that the U.S. government owns and controls Starshield, with decisions about its use resting with the American military and, ultimately, with President Donald Trump.
asserted
decisions → say → Trump
The Pentagon has not answered questions from AP about the restriction.
asserted
Pentagon → answer → restriction
Trump told reporters Friday that he did not order restrictions on the system.
asserted
he → tell → system
He also doubted that the disruption came from Musk.
asserted
disruption → doubt → Musk
“Well, I don’t know if it was anybody, but it wasn’t me, and I don’t think it was Elon,” Trump said outside the White House before leaving for Georgia.
asserted
Trump → know → Georgia
“And from what I understand, it’s the same as it’s always been.”
asserted
it → understand → what
Episode adds to deteriorating relationship
The episode adds to the deteriorating relations between Kyiv and Washington that were already strained by Trump’s deal to import Russian diesel, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal, and by what Zelenskyy described as a breakdown in Western intelligence sharing.
asserted
Zelenskyy → add → sharing
The speed restriction disrupted front-line operations and left Ukraine more exposed to Russia’s jet-powered Shahed drones, which fly at more than 400 kph (250 mph).
asserted
which → disrupt → kph
Kyiv recently found a way to counter the drones after weeks of relentless attacks that killed dozens of civilians.
asserted
that → find → civilians
Ukraine relies on Starshield, which previously had no speed limit, to control interceptor drones that chase down the jet-powered drones at speeds far above the cap.
asserted
that → rely → cap
“Our guys in the armed forces are showing that the solution works effectively,” Beskrestnov said.
asserted
Beskrestnov → show → forces
“And then comes a surprise: At one moment, this solution stops protecting our country.”
asserted
solution → come → country
The cap also affects Ukrainian helicopters that hunt propeller-driven Shahed drones, Beskrestnov said.
asserted
Beskrestnov → affect → drones
Beskrestnov described it as a package managed by the Pentagon and the U.S. government and offered to partner countries for military use.
asserted
Beskrestnov → describe → use
It has separate fees and terms from the civilian satellite service, as well as a more stable, higher priority connection.
asserted
It → have → service
Beskrestnov stressed that it is not used on Russian territory and that Starshield provides no service to Ukrainian drones used to attack oil refineries there.
asserted
Starshield → stress → refineries
After the restriction took effect, Ukraine began speaking about it almost immediately because it “could not be hidden,” with so many units relying on the service, Beskrestnov said.
uncertain
Beskrestnov → take → service
He was the first Ukrainian official to publicly confirm the restriction.
asserted
He → confirm → restriction
Problems soon mounted, Beskrestnov said, with communication outages on top of the speed restriction, most likely caused by the new limits.
asserted
Beskrestnov → mount → limits
After Ukraine raised the issue, SpaceX fixed the outages, but the cap remained in place.
asserted
cap → raise → place
Ukraine is trying to find out whether it can switch to a separate Starshield package designed for aircraft that has no speed limit, or have the restriction on the current service lifted, Beskrestnov said.
asserted
Beskrestnov → try → service
The aviation package costs much more, which would also be difficult for Ukraine, he said.
asserted
he → cost → Ukraine
And right now, we don’t know what the decision will be,” he said.
asserted
he → know → ?
Ukraine seeks alternatives to Starlink
Ukraine is looking for alternatives to Starlink not only as a safeguard in case it loses access, but also because Russia is already seeking ways to counter Starlink, Beskrestnov said.
asserted
Beskrestnov → seek → Starlink
Russian forces are deploying electronic warfare systems at various points along the front line to disrupt the network, he said.
asserted
he → deploy → network
Ukraine is also exploring other options, including a satellite network Amazon is building and OneWeb by Europe’s Eutelsat, Beskrestnov said.
asserted
Beskrestnov → explore → Eutelsat
Satellite internet matters to Ukraine beyond combat, as it also supports civilians and the morale of troops, Beskrestnov said.
asserted
Beskrestnov → matter → troops
“On many positions, Starlink is the only way to talk to their families,” he said.
asserted
he → talk → families
“Few people think about it, but it is very important for supporting the military.”
asserted
it → think → military
Russia’s Rassvet satellite network presents the next big challenge
While Ukraine tries to resolve the Starshield restriction, the next phase of the technology race looms, Beskrestnov said, pointing to Russia’s Rassvet satellite network.
asserted
Beskrestnov → present → network
“For me, this is danger No. 1 among the technological challenges Russia poses to us right now,” he said.
asserted
he → pose → us
He said he believes Russia is already gaining the ability to control Shahed drones, reconnaissance drones and even cheap missiles such as the Banderol and Dan-M by satellite in real time.
asserted
Russia → say → time
“This really will be a big catastrophe for everyone,” he said.
asserted
he → say → everyone
Simply put, the satellite connection would allow Russian operators to steer drones and missiles directly, rendering useless the electronic-warfare network Ukraine has built across the country to jam them.
asserted
Ukraine → put → them
“They will be able to attack the whole country in real time, and do it very precisely,” Beskrestnov said.
asserted
Beskrestnov → attack → it
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
