Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that an internal military probe uncovered systematic speed restrictions applied to SpaceX's Starshield network rather than incidental outages. The network disconnects any hardware traveling beyond 161 kilometers per hour, hindering the tracking and interception of advanced aerial threats. This degraded defense posture comes directly as high-level diplomatic meetings unfold in the region.
Key points
Systematic operational caps on Starshield terminals have actively degraded Ukraine's air…: Systematic operational caps on Starshield terminals have actively degraded Ukraine's air defenses against fast Russian jet-powered drones.
The satellite network built specifically for government and national-security use is expe…: The satellite network built specifically for government and national-security use is experiencing its second wave of restrictions following limitations last month.
Technological impediments on the battlefield coincide with critical international diploma…: Technological impediments on the battlefield coincide with critical international diplomacy, including recently concluded peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was investigating what he described as fresh restrictions on SpaceX's Starshield service over the country, after similar speed limitations were imposed last month.
"Our units have been recording significant disruptions to Starshield's operations over the territory of Ukraine for several days now – along the entire front line and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," he wrote on X early Thursday.
Starshield is SpaceX's satellite network for government and national-security use, built on Starlink technology.
CNBC has reached out to SpaceX and the White House for comment.
"The Ukrainian military have already investigated the circumstances, and these are not random errors but systematic speed restrictions," he said.
Zelenskyy said the restrictions imposed an effective speed limit on terminals of 161 kilometers per hour (100 miles per hour), disconnecting anything that was moving faster.
He added this made it harder for Ukraine to intercept Russian jet-powered drones.
"There have already been strikes that got through because our interception systems cannot reach sufficient speeds and are unable to intercept in time."
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