Days after US President Donald Trump announced a diesel supply deal with Russia and declared an energy ceasefire in the Ukraine war, Ukraine reported sudden restrictions on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet terminals and US intelligence that warns of incoming Russian ballistic missile attacks.
The restrictions have affected military-grade satellite terminals used to guide Ukrainian drones for attack missions and air defences to intercept incoming Russian drones.
Now, Ukraine is in a difficult position as its once-crucial relationship with US President Donald Trump comes under strain. Musk is also a close ally of Trump. According to Reuters, the billionaire has spent about USD 366 million ahead of the 2026 midterms, including USD 276 million since July, to help Republicans retain control of Congress. He also funded his run for presidency by several hundred million dollars.
In a post on X, Musk clarified that restrictions on Starshield, SpaceX’s military satellite service, are decided by the US government and military, ultimately under the authority of the US President. He distinguished the system from Starlink, describing the latter as a commercial service intended for civilian or defensive use rather than offensive military operations.
WHAT HAPPENED TO UKRAINE’S STARLINK ACCESS? Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov said the restrictions were imposed without warning, which disrupted several military operations. He claimed the timing of the action is important, although he did not provide evidence linking the move to pressure from the Trump administration.
“Obviously, this action cannot be a coincidence and is associated with the current political situation,” Beskrestnov said in a social media post.
Starlink is a satellite internet network operated by SpaceX, the company founded by billionaire Elon Musk. It provides internet connectivity in areas where conventional communications infrastructure is unavailable, damaged or unreliable.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Starlink has been an important part of Ukraine’s military communications. Ukrainian forces use the network to coordinate operations, exchange information and maintain connections with drones operating over the battlefield.
The latest restrictions reportedly affected Starlink terminals used while moving at high speeds. According to Beskrestnov, SpaceX imposed a speed limit of 160 kilometres per hour on terminals covered by its StarShield military service package.
Ukrainian military sources cited by The Kyiv Independent said the limitations were affecting drone operations even at speeds considerably below that threshold. A source in Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said that the cause was being investigated.
“This complicates drone missi
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