Ukraine faced new problems on the battlefield Wednesday after SpaceX satellite services were restricted, raising concerns about the country’s ability to defend itself against Russian attacks. The disruption added to growing tensions between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine relies on Starlink, a satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, to support military communications and drone operations. The system helps troops share information, control reconnaissance drones and operate defensive drones that intercept incoming Russian aircraft.
Ukrainian officials said the service was partly restored on Wednesday. However, they were still trying to learn why the restrictions began and who had ordered them. The disruption came days after a dispute over Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian oil sales.
Zelensky had criticized the move. Trump later called for Ukraine to elect a new president, adding to the strain between the two governments.
A senior U.S. official said the Trump administration was not responsible for the reported limits on Starlink. Ukrainian officials remained concerned, however, as the service problems coincided with other setbacks in intelligence sharing.
Ukrainian officials said the restrictions began on Tuesday night. According to their accounts, Starlink connections stopped working when drones travelled faster than 160 kilometers per hour. In some cases, the service reportedly disconnected at speeds above 80 kilometers per hour.
The limits affected military drone operations, including efforts to intercept Russian drones and carry out strikes at long distances. Ukrainian officials said the restrictions also came several hours after the country did not receive an early warning of a Russian ballistic missile attack.
They said the United States had provided such warnings for several years under intelligence-sharing arrangements. U.S. officials reportedly described the problem as a technical malfunction. Ukrainian officials, however, questioned whether the service changes were linked to the wider political dispute.
At a meeting in London with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Zelensky said Ukraine had faced major Russian attacks while dealing with difficulties involving Starlink and intelligence. He said Kyiv wanted to maintain its partnership with Washington but needed clear communication between the two sides.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense said Starlink continued to impose a speed limit of 160 kilometers per hour. Although the service had improved compared with the earlier disruption, officials said the limit remained too low for some missions against Russian jet-powered drones.
The ministry said it was in contact with partners and SpaceX to seek stable service and prevent sudden restrictions. A Ukrainian official also said the current speed limit was not enough for intercepting certain Russian drones.
The dispute has raised questions about whether SpaceX’s actions were technical or political. Some Ukrainian officials suspect the restrictions were imposed deliberately to pressure Kyiv to follow Trump’s demand that Ukraine stop attacking Russian oil refineries. That claim has not been confirmed.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski also questioned Musk about the restrictions in a public post on X. He asked whether Musk was using his products to influence political decisions and said European customers were watching the situation.
Ukraine relies on two satellite systems for different military needs. Starlink provides communications for ground forces, logistics and defensive drone operations. Starshield, another SpaceX system, is controlled by the U.S. government and supports military activities. Ukrainian officials said both systems faced restrictions.
Musk addressed the distinction between the services in a post on X but did not directly explain the reported Starlink disruption. He said Starshield was owned and controlled by the U.S. government, with decisions about limits made by the U.S. military and ultimately the president.
He described Starlink as a commercial service controlled by SpaceX. Musk said its use was limited to civilian and defensive activities and that it could not be used for offensive military action.
Meanwhile, Zelensky’s senior advisers contacted White House officials on Wednesday to ask whether a decision had been made to restrict Starlink and what could be done to restore normal service, according to two sources. Ukrainian officials also contacted the CIA and the Pentagon.
The White House reportedly told Kyiv that it did not control SpaceX. One source said the Trump administration planned to contact the company to find out what had happened. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
For Ukraine, the service disruption has raised immediate operational concerns as Russian attacks continue. Officials are seeking a clear explanation while trying to ensure that satellite communications remain reliable for military and defensive work. The cause of the restrictions remains unresolved.
