Kyiv/Washington, 18 October (H.S.): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that restrictions on Ukraine’s access to satellite systems operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX continue to hamper the country’s military operations. The limitations have reportedly prevented Ukrainian forces from using drones to intercept Russian attack drones and deliver essential supplies to troops deployed along the front lines. Ukrainian officials are still trying to determine whether the restrictions stem from a political decision by the Trump administration or from actions taken by Musk’s company.

According to a report by Axios, officials in the Trump administration and representatives of SpaceX have been shifting responsibility for the restrictions onto one another. A Ukrainian official said the company had attributed the problem to a technical issue, while its contacts within SpaceX suggested that the restrictions were being imposed by the White House. When Ukrainian officials approached the White House for clarification, they were reportedly told that the matter was the responsibility of Musk.

Musk said in a post on X on Wednesday that the US government was responsible for imposing limitations on the Starshield system. “Starshield is owned by the US government and controlled by it,” he wrote, adding that any restrictions on its speed or use were determined by the US military and, ultimately, the American president.

US President Donald Trump, however, said on Friday that the White House had played no role in restricting Ukraine’s use of the system.

Ukrainian officials said that before the restrictions were introduced, the Starlink and Starshield networks had supported drones travelling at speeds of up to 400 kilometres per hour. The permitted speed has reportedly since been capped at 161 kilometres per hour.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Zelensky said the Ukrainian military had tested the system on vehicles in European Union member states on Friday. According to him, the satellite connection continued to function even when the vehicles were travelling at 180 kilometres per hour. However, once the vehicles crossed into Ukrainian territory, the connection was disconnected when they reached 161 kilometres per hour.

“The conclusion is that these restrictions apply inside Ukraine but not in European Union countries. In other words, this is a deliberate measure,” Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president also questioned SpaceX’s assertion that the speed limit resulted from technical problems, suggesting that the restrictions were not simply the consequence of a technological malfunction.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, cast doubt on Zelensky’s account. Speaking to reporters on Saturday evening before departing for a visit to India, Rubio said he was not sure Zelensky understood what he was talking about. Rubio maintained that no one in the US government had ordered a reduction in Starlink’s speed.

The dispute has highlighted Ukraine’s dependence on satellite communications for battlefield coordination and drone operations. Ukrainian forces use SpaceX’s Starlink network to control and operate reconnaissance drones and interceptor drones designed to destroy enemy unmanned aircraft.

Ukraine relies on two distinct satellite systems for different purposes. Starlink, operated by SpaceX, supports communications, ground-force operations, logistics and defensive drone missions. Starshield, by contrast, is controlled by the US government and is intended for sensitive government and military applications, including offensive military operations.

The restrictions, if maintained, could complicate Ukraine’s ability to deploy drones effectively, particularly in operations requiring high-speed connectivity. The disagreement has also raised questions about the extent to which Ukraine’s access to critical battlefield technology depends on decisions made by private companies and foreign governments.

Zelensky said Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, spoke with Jared Kushner, an adviser and envoy to Trump, on Friday. The two discussed the Starlink issue, he added.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar