17:24Machine-translated from Azerbaijani by AIRead in Azerbaijani
Ukraine Accuses SpaceX of Restricting Military Satellite Internet
Ukrainian officials accused SpaceX on October 14 of restricting satellite internet used for military operations in the country. The restriction applies to military Starshield terminals in motion and prevents them from operating at speeds above 160 km/h. Presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov said no advance warning had been given about the decision and that several missions were disrupted as a result.
Starshield terminals are installed on drones and other military vehicles. They provide a high-speed internet connection while in motion, allowing operators to control drones in real time. The system has played an important role in strikes against Russian logistics in Ukraine’s occupied southern and eastern regions. The 7th Rapid Response Corps, which is fighting on the southeastern front, confirmed that it had canceled several missions because of the restriction. According to the corps’ observations, the internet connection can be interrupted for 10-20 seconds when drones are flying at 110-120 km/h. Although the drones continue flying, these interruptions make them difficult to control. Volunteer Serhiy Sternenko, citing military personnel, said the connection now drops even at speeds of 60-70 km/h. Sources at the Ministry of Defense also said the restriction is hindering logistics and drone operations. SpaceX has not explained the reason for the speed limit. Ukrainian officials believe the decision was deliberate because the restriction coincided with Washington’s demand to halt long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. This pressure increased after US President Donald Trump called for a ceasefire in the energy sector. Elon Musk also wrote on the X platform on Saturday that Volodymyr Zelenskyy had gone too far. Starlink has been one of Ukraine’s primary means of communication on the front lines since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. If the service were completely shut down, the country’s frontline defenses could be seriously weakened. During this period, the US has provided Ukraine with billions of dollars in direct military aid. Ukrainian defense technology company Stetman is also developing a domestic satellite communications system called UASAT-NANO to reduce dependence on SpaceX.
Starshield terminals are installed on drones and other military vehicles. They provide a high-speed internet connection while in motion, allowing operators to control drones in real time. The system has played an important role in strikes against Russian logistics in Ukraine’s occupied southern and eastern regions. The 7th Rapid Response Corps, which is fighting on the southeastern front, confirmed that it had canceled several missions because of the restriction. According to the corps’ observations, the internet connection can be interrupted for 10-20 seconds when drones are flying at 110-120 km/h. Although the drones continue flying, these interruptions make them difficult to control. Volunteer Serhiy Sternenko, citing military personnel, said the connection now drops even at speeds of 60-70 km/h. Sources at the Ministry of Defense also said the restriction is hindering logistics and drone operations. SpaceX has not explained the reason for the speed limit. Ukrainian officials believe the decision was deliberate because the restriction coincided with Washington’s demand to halt long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. This pressure increased after US President Donald Trump called for a ceasefire in the energy sector. Elon Musk also wrote on the X platform on Saturday that Volodymyr Zelenskyy had gone too far. Starlink has been one of Ukraine’s primary means of communication on the front lines since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. If the service were completely shut down, the country’s frontline defenses could be seriously weakened. During this period, the US has provided Ukraine with billions of dollars in direct military aid. Ukrainian defense technology company Stetman is also developing a domestic satellite communications system called UASAT-NANO to reduce dependence on SpaceX.