Zelenskyy says Starlink drone restrictions are now lifted

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced over the weekend that new limits on satellite connectivity for drones have been removed. This development potentially concludes a dispute that began nearly two weeks ago regarding how Kyiv utilizes satellite technology for military operations.

Elon Musk stated on Saturday that Ukraine violated Starlink terms of service. He argued that the satellite system is a civilian commercial service, not designed for offensive drone strikes intended to kill people. Musk noted that Starshield is a distinct military system controlled by the US government, implying Ukraine should have used that instead.

Ukrainian defense technology advisor Serhii Beskrestnov rejected the accusation in a post on Telegram on Sunday. He described the claim as physically impossible. Beskrestnov explained that all Starlink terminals over Ukrainian territory, including areas occupied by Russia, are already capped at speeds of 70 to 90 kilometers per hour. He added that the technology does not function over Russian soil.

SpaceX implemented a restriction last week that prevented Ukraine from using the satellite technology on drones flying above specific speeds. One current and one former Ukrainian official said these previous limits already stopped the military from using the service in the manner Musk described. The officials also accused Musk of slowing down their access to Starshield, the military variant of the system provided through a US government deal.