Kyiv has voiced concerns about the reliability of military satellite internet services provided by the United States amid growing tensions between the two countries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed unease over what he described as restrictions on the Starshield system, a military-grade satellite internet service supplied through a Pentagon contract with SpaceX. The service is used by Ukrainian forces for drone operations in their ongoing conflict with Russia.
In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Zelensky raised the possibility that the United States might ultimately side with Russia, a development he warned would be catastrophic for Ukraine’s efforts to resist Russian aggression. He referred to ongoing limitations on the Starshield network, which reportedly include a cap on the maximum speed at which drones connected to the system can operate—approximately 100 miles per hour. Ukrainian military officials have said these restrictions have disrupted operations and compromised air-defense capabilities.
Although Zelensky stopped short of accusing specific parties, he suggested that the restrictions might have originated within the U.S. government. Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, indicated that any control over Starshield falls under U.S. government authority. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump denied installing the limit and dismissed the notion that Musk himself was involved. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has called for an investigation into the matter.
Efforts by Kyiv to obtain clarity and restore full functionality have reportedly been met with silence from both the Pentagon and SpaceX. Denys Sienik, a senior Ukrainian diplomat in the United States, noted that inquiries submitted more than a month ago remained unanswered, and disruptions persisted into the weekend. Ukrainian commanders offered mixed reports on whether service had been fully restored.
Compounding concerns over Ukraine's satellite communications, arson attacks have taken place at Starlink ground stations in Poland and Bulgaria. Polish authorities blamed Russian intelligence for the attack on the Polish facility, and Bulgaria is conducting a related investigation. It remains unclear if these stations directly support Ukrainian military traffic.
The context for these developments includes recent moves by the Trump administration that Kyiv sees as favorable to Russia. In early October, Trump announced a deal to purchase Russian diesel fuel to help lower U.S. gasoline prices, contingent upon Ukraine halting attacks on Russian oil refineries. Ukraine briefly complied but resumed strikes after receiving no reciprocal concessions from Russia. These strikes have targeted facilities southeast of Moscow and in St. Petersburg, causing fires and damage to the Russian oil infrastructure.
Ukrainian officials maintain that such attacks primarily affect Russia’s war financing rather than global oil prices, which they argue are influenced by broader geopolitical events such as conflict in the Middle East. Ukrainian parliamentary foreign affairs committee chairman Oleksandr Merezhko emphasized that these deep strikes are aimed solely at limiting Russia’s military capabilities and pressuring Moscow toward negotiations.
The situation underscores the complexity of U.S.-Ukraine relations amid the ongoing war with Russia, as Kyiv grapples with technological constraints and diplomatic frustrations while pursuing its military objectives.