Ukrainian frontline officers have warned that reported restrictions on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service have disrupted military operations, particularly medium-range drone strikes, raising concerns about Kyiv’s dependence on technology controlled by a U.S. company.
“This is comparable to a nuclear strike against us. All operations are on hold. This will cost many of us our lives,” an experienced Ukrainian officer commanding a medium-range drone unit in southeastern Ukraine told POLITICO and the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network.
According to the officer, Starlink and Starshield terminals used by Ukrainian forces began experiencing speed restrictions on the night of October 13–14. The reported limitations have affected drones used to strike targets at distances of up to 150 kilometers.
The officer said the restrictions had brought medium-range strike operations to a halt, disrupting attacks on Russian military logistics, ammunition depots, command centers and artillery positions. He also warned that the disruption could give Russian forces time to strengthen their positions and reinforce supply routes to Crimea.
Two other Ukrainian soldiers operating ground robots and first-person-view drones in the Donbas region also reported abrupt restrictions on Starlink services, according to POLITICO.
A Ukrainian Defense Ministry official said SpaceX had restricted the operation of Starshield terminals while in motion without prior notice to Ukraine’s defense forces. The official reported that the restrictions took effect at varying speeds, depending on the vehicle and military unit.
The full scale of the disruption remains unclear, as does whether the reported restrictions were deliberate or resulted from another technical cause. POLITICO said it could not independently establish the reason for the service interruptions.
Concerns over political pressure
The reported restrictions have emerged as U.S. President Donald Trump increases pressure on Kyiv over its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov suggested that the timing was politically significant, although no independent evidence establishing a connection was presented in the report.
European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius acknowledged Europe’s dependence on American space capabilities, arguing that the situation underlined the need for Europe to develop its own systems.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also criticized Musk publicly, questioning whether political considerations were influencing the operation of his company’s services.
Starlink’s central role in Ukraine’s war effort
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Starlink has become a crucial part of Ukraine’s military communications infrastructure. Ukrainian forces have used the system to coordinate operations, adjust artillery fire, control naval drones and maintain communications in areas where conventional networks have been damaged or disrupted.
More recently, Ukrainian units have increasingly equipped medium-range strike drones with Starlink terminals. The technology allows operators to maintain live video connections with drones and supports navigation in environments where conventional GPS signals are jammed.
Without Starlink, Ukrainian forces would need alternative communications equipment and more complex systems to maintain reliable control of their drones, military personnel told POLITICO.
The service has also previously been a source of uncertainty for Kyiv. Early in the war, Starlink reportedly restricted some terminals intended for use in an attack on Russia’s naval fleet. In February 2026, SpaceX also moved to block terminals being used illegally by Russian forces, reportedly causing disruption to their operations.
Ukrainian officers have repeatedly expressed concern that decisions made by SpaceX or U.S. authorities could suddenly limit their military capabilities.
One drone pilot told POLITICO that Ukrainian units had experienced earlier connectivity problems in September, followed by a return to normal service. He suspected the interruptions may have been imposed deliberately, but the report did not independently verify that claim.
The latest reported restrictions have renewed concerns about the vulnerability of Ukraine’s battlefield communications and the risks of relying heavily on a privately controlled satellite network during wartime.
