Kyiv is engaged in talks with SpaceX and the United States Department of Defense to lift a newly imposed speed restriction on its military satellite communication service, a senior Ukrainian official said Friday. The limitation, which cuts data connection speeds for communication terminals moving faster than 100 miles per hour, was unexpectedly introduced on Thursday and has disrupted Ukraine’s drone operations near the front line.

Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky, described the restriction as having significant operational consequences. The limit forces Ukrainian drones utilizing Starshield—the military variant of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system—to fly slower than usual, making them more vulnerable to Russian attacks. He highlighted that the issue appears to extend beyond technical or commercial reasoning into the political sphere, though the precise decision-makers remain uncertain.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk confirmed this week that the U.S. government controls the Starshield system and that usage decisions fall under American military authority. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump denied involvement in the new limitations, telling reporters he was not responsible for the changes and casting doubt on Musk’s role. The Pentagon did not respond to inquiries regarding the restriction.

This development deepens tensions between Kyiv and Washington, which had been strained already by disputes over energy imports involving Russian diesel and diminished intelligence collaboration, according to Ukrainian officials. The speed cap complicates Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian jet-powered Shahed drones, which reach speeds exceeding 250 mph, against which Ukraine has made recent tactical gains employing interceptor drones linked to the Starshield system.

Beskrestnov explained that Starshield is crucial for managing Ukraine’s drone network, offering a secure, high-priority connection separate from commercial Starlink services. He emphasized that the system is not used within Russian territory for offensive operations. Following the imposition of the speed limit, Ukraine immediately raised concerns due to the widespread dependency on Starshield across military units. While some communication issues caused by the restriction were subsequently resolved by SpaceX, the speed cap remains.

Kyiv is actively negotiating with U.S. authorities and SpaceX to either lift the speed restriction or move to a more expensive satellite package designed for aircraft, which currently has no speed limit. Concurrently, Ukraine is exploring satellite internet alternatives, including networks under development by Amazon and European operator OneWeb, both as a contingency against potential further disruptions and in response to Russian efforts to jam satellite signals with electronic warfare systems.

Beyond military operations, satellite internet also plays a significant role in maintaining troop morale and civilian communication, according to Beskrestnov, who noted that for many frontline personnel, Starlink is the only means of contact with their families.

Amid these challenges, Ukraine faces a looming technological threat from Russia’s Rassvet satellite network, which Ukrainian officials believe is enabling Moscow to direct drones, reconnaissance aircraft, and even inexpensive missiles in real time. Beskrestnov warned that if Russia achieves full satellite coverage over Ukraine, it could neutralize existing Ukrainian electronic warfare defenses designed to jam hostile drone signals. He estimated comprehensive coverage could be realized within six months, offering Russian forces the capability for precise, real-time strikes across Ukraine’s territory.

In response, Ukraine is developing countermeasures and considering sanctions but acknowledges the difficulty given Russia’s advantage of having tested its systems against Starlink networks already in operation. Beskrestnov underscored the urgency of rapid development and large-scale deployment of defensive tools to mitigate the anticipated threat from Russia’s satellite-enabled attacks.