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 on Friday (October 16, 2026), 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 (October 15, 2026), 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.
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weapons → force → them
“But we now understand that this is not only a technical issue and business issue, but also a political one,” Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to Mr. 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.
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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.
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decisions → say → Trump
The Pentagon has not answered questions from AP about the restriction.
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Pentagon → answer → restriction
Mr. Trump told reporters on Friday (October 16, 2026) that he did not order restrictions on the system.
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he → tell → system
He also doubted that the disruption came from Mr. Musk.
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disruption → doubt → Musk
“Well, I don't know if it was anybody, but it wasn't me, and I don't think it was Mr. Elon,” Mr. Trump said outside the White House before leaving for Georgia.
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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 Mr. Trump's deal to import Russian diesel, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal, and by what Mr. Zelenskyy described as a breakdown in Western intelligence sharing.
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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).
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which → disrupt → kph
Kyiv recently found a way to counter the drones after weeks of relentless attacks that killed dozens of civilians.
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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.
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that → rely → cap
“Our guys in the armed forces are showing that the solution works effectively,” Mr. Beskrestnov said.
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Beskrestnov → show → forces
“And then comes a surprise: At one moment, this solution stops protecting our country."
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solution → come → country
The cap also affects Ukrainian helicopters that hunt propeller-driven Shahed drones, Mr. Beskrestnov said.
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Beskrestnov → affect → drones
Mr. Beskrestnov described it as a package managed by the Pentagon and the U.S. government and offered to partner countries for military use.
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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
Mr. 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.
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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, Mr. Beskrestnov said.
uncertain
Beskrestnov → take → service
He was the first Ukrainian official to publicly confirm the restriction.
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He → confirm → restriction
Problems soon mounted, Mr. Beskrestnov said, with communication outages on top of the speed restriction, most likely caused by the new limits.
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Beskrestnov → mount → limits
After Ukraine raised the issue, SpaceX fixed the outages, but the cap remained in place.
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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, Mr. Beskrestnov said.
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Beskrestnov → try → service
The aviation package costs much more, which would also be difficult for Ukraine, he said.
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he → cost → Ukraine
And right now, we don't know what the decision will be,” he said.
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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, Mr. Beskrestnov said.
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Beskrestnov → seek → Starlink
Russian forces are deploying electronic warfare systems at various points along the front line to disrupt the network, he said.
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he → deploy → network
Ukraine is also exploring other options, including a satellite network Amazon is building and OneWeb by Europe's Eutelsat, Mr. Beskrestnov said.
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Beskrestnov → explore → Eutelsat
Satellite internet matters to Ukraine beyond combat, as it also supports civilians and the morale of troops, Mr. Beskrestnov said.
“On many positions, Starlink is the only way to talk to their families,” he said.
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he → matter → families
“Few people think about it, but it is very important for supporting the military.”
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it → think → military
Russia's Rassvet satellite network presents the next big challenge
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network → present → challenge
While Ukraine tries to resolve the Starshield restriction, the next phase of the technology race looms, Mr. Beskrestnov said, pointing to Russia's Rassvet satellite network.
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Beskrestnov → try → network
“For me, this is danger No. 1 among the technological challenges Russia poses to us right now,” he said.
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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.
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Russia → say → time
“This really will be a big catastrophe for everyone,” he said.
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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,” Mr. Beskrestnov said.
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Beskrestnov → attack → it
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
