Foto: BB.LV / Starlink
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday, October 17, that the restrictions on the operation of the Starlink satellite system in Ukraine are still in effect and hinder the performance of combat and logistical tasks of the Ukrainian armed forces. This was reported by the LETA agency, citing the BBC. Earlier, Ukrainian authorities stated that SpaceX, which owns Starlink, had imposed restrictions on equipment installed on moving objects, including Ukrainian drones. ## Drones lose connection when exceeding speed In response to journalists' questions, Zelensky explained that currently Starlink continues to operate at speeds up to 161 kilometers per hour. When this threshold is exceeded, he said, the connection completely disappears. > "After that, according to the reports I have seen and heard, the Starlink signal completely disappears, and we lose the drone," the Ukrainian president stated. The restrictions affect not only the use of drones in combat operations but also their use for supplying military personnel. ## Military cannot deliver food to certain positions According to Zelensky, due to problems with Starlink, the Ukrainian armed forces have lost the ability to deliver water and food to some positions. This problem is particularly acute in areas where the movement of people and ground vehicles is restricted due to the activity of Russian drones. > "This is very important in those places where military personnel or equipment cannot reach. Where there is isolation due to control by enemy drones," Zelensky explained. Thus, he said, the restrictions on satellite communication complicate the supply of Ukrainian units located in hard-to-reach areas. ## In the European Union, Starlink works even at speeds of 180 km/h, Zelensky claims Ukrainian authorities attempted to find out whether similar restrictions apply to other European countries. For this purpose, according to Zelensky, several vehicles equipped with Starlink were sent to the territory of the European Union. During the check, the vehicles were moving at speeds of 180 kilometers per hour and above, yet the satellite communication continued to function. > "The conclusion is as follows: the restrictions apply on the territory of Ukraine, but do not apply on the territory of EU countries. This means that it is a planned operation," Zelensky stated. At the same time, the Ukrainian president did not provide any additional technical details of the tests or explanations for the differences in the operation of the system. ## Musk and the White House deny interference Earlier, the White House and SpaceX owner Elon Musk denied that they made the decision to limit the speed of Starlink. At the same time, according to British press reports, such a decision may have been made by Musk in conjunction with U.S. President Donald Trump. There is no official confirmation of this version in the provided reports. Thus, the reasons for the existing restrictions remain a matter of dispute: the Ukrainian side points to their impact on military operations and the differences in the operation of the system in Ukraine and the EU, while Musk and the White House deny involvement in the decision to slow down Starlink.
