Ukraine is continuing to experience disruptions to its Starlink satellite communications network, despite US President Donald Trump saying that Elon Musk had restored the service’s performance, according to sources within Ukraine’s defence ministry.
The sources told the BBC that Ukrainian forces were still recording cases of drones losing their connections while travelling at speeds of 161km/h (100mph), affecting military operations.
They said the defence ministry was closely monitoring the performance of both Starlink and Starshield, the more secure satellite communications service used by Ukraine for some military operations.
However, the sources said there was “currently no confirmation that these restrictions have been lifted”.
Trump Says Musk Has Restored the Service
Trump said on Thursday that Musk had reversed the restrictions affecting the satellite network, although the US president had previously denied instructing the technology billionaire to limit connectivity.
When asked whether he had contacted Musk to request that the restrictions be lifted, Trump declined to confirm whether such a conversation had taken place.
“Bottom line, he put it back,” Trump said.
Musk had previously denied being responsible for the slowdown affecting Ukraine’s ability to operate attack drones and coordinate defensive activities.
The White House has also repeatedly denied deliberately imposing restrictions on the satellite network in Ukraine.
Drones Reportedly Lose Connection Above 100mph
The dispute emerged last week when Ukrainian officials reported that uplink speeds to the low Earth orbit satellite network had been restricted.
According to Kyiv, drones travelling faster than 100mph were losing their connections, limiting their operational speed and effectiveness.
Starlink and Starshield provide communications support for Ukrainian forces, including the transmission of battlefield information and coordination between drone operators and military units.
Following the reports of disruption, Musk said Starshield was controlled by the US military and suggested that the Pentagon could be responsible for the problems.
Ukraine’s defence ministry has continued to monitor both networks as questions remain over whether their previous performance has been fully restored.
Starlink and Starshield Play Key Roles in Ukraine’s Military Operations
Ukraine uses the civilian Starlink service and the more secure Starshield network, depending on its communications requirements.
The satellite systems use approximately 10,000 satellites in low Earth orbit to provide internet connectivity, including in remote locations and on battlefields.
Their communications capabilities allow information gathered by reconnaissance drones to be transmitted to command centres and relayed to battlefield units. Drone operators can then use that information to direct attack drones towards targets.
Starlink is not operational in Russia, meaning Ukrainian forces cannot use the service to conduct attacks outside Ukraine.
Satellite Dispute Emerges Amid Tensions Between Trump and Zelensky
Reports of the slowdown surfaced during a diplomatic dispute between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.
Kyiv has argued that strikes on Russian oil refineries are important for reducing Moscow’s main sources of revenue for its war effort.
Trump, however, said the attacks had contributed to higher global prices.
Zelensky also said the United States had threatened to withdraw intelligence-sharing support if Ukraine did not stop the strikes.
The tensions have unfolded ahead of US midterm elections scheduled for next month. Trump has waived some sanctions on Russia and agreed to a deal to import Russian diesel into the US market, moves that have drawn criticism from Ukraine and its European allies.
Zelensky Awaits Further Information From Washington
Earlier on Thursday, before Trump said the restrictions had been reversed, Zelensky indicated that Starlink’s performance had not been fully restored.
“I am waiting to hear from US Secretary of State [Marco] Rubio. He promised to get back to me with information within 48 hours or so,” Zelensky said.
His comments highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the reported restrictions, with Ukrainian officials still seeking confirmation that the network was operating normally.
Report Links Trump-Musk Conversation to Improved Speeds
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had told Musk he was frustrated that Starlink’s speeds remained capped.
According to the newspaper, the network began operating closer to normal following that conversation.
However, Ukrainian defence ministry sources subsequently told the BBC that connectivity problems were still being recorded and that they had not confirmed the restrictions had been lifted.
