Susanna Riva Ukrainian interception units confirmed on Friday morning that Starshield -based satellite terminals are no longer able to maintain a stable connection when drones exceed 140-160 km/h. This difficulty translates into a loss of control during missions to shoot down Russian Shahed drones, compromising the effectiveness of air defense operations.
Despite Donald Trump 's public statements that Elon Musk would remove the restrictions, tests conducted by Kyiv itself have shown that the limit remains in place.
Speed restrictions remain in place despite claims
According to an anonymous Ukrainian government official, tests carried out this morning showed that the 140-160 km/h threshold is still present and that navigation is not working properly.
Another Defense Ministry representative confirmed that connectivity interruptions are still occurring at speeds of 161 km/h, and there is no official confirmation that the restrictions have been lifted. This data contradicts statements made Thursday evening, when Trump announced that Musk would restore Starlink service to Ukraine.
Trump's statements and Musk's response
The US president, in an interview following a visit to Washington, said he has a good relationship with Musk but avoided commenting on the details of the intervention, simply saying that "he fixed it." Musk, for his part, emphasized that Starshield is operated by the US government and that any decisions regarding speed limits rest with the Department of Defense and, ultimately, the president. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has clarified that the administration cannot directly direct SpaceX regarding restrictions or slowdowns.
Practical drone tests: speed and signal loss
Operators of the Ukrainian team known as "Magyar's Birds" conducted tests starting Thursday evening over the Black Sea, recording speeds of up to 200 km/h. However, they observed that, once the 180 km/h threshold was exceeded, the connection dropped after a few minutes, only to reappear at lower speeds, around 140-150 km/h. Pilot Leon described the situation as "better than before, but with constant signal drops," indicating that the drones' operational capabilities remain severely compromised.
Origin of the decision to limit Starshield
Pentagon sources revealed that the restrictions were issued by a White House official , though it was not specified who actually issued the order. A senior U.S. official stated that "the president never made any request," but the White House did not comment on the possible origin of the order. The restrictions, which affect platforms moving faster than approximately 100 mph, had an immediate impact on drone strike and defense operations, leaving Ukrainian commanders puzzled about the reliance on an externally controlled satellite system.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the restriction of being a deliberate move to limit Starshield 's operational speed within the country, without providing a reason. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had called Musk to request the removal of the restrictions, but no confirmation was given by Musk or administration officials. The issue remains open, with Ukrainian authorities continuing to seek clarification from Washington, the Pentagon, and the State Department.