KYIV, Ukraine — New restrictions on Starlink satellite internet services have disrupted Ukrainian military operations, including drone missions against Russian forces.
The restrictions affect the military-grade Starshield service, with connections being lost when equipment travels faster than approximately 160 kilometres per hour (100 miles per hour).
Ukrainian officials said the changes were introduced without warning by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company overnight.
Serhiy Beskrestnov, a technology adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, disclosed the disruption on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
He said several military operations had already been affected, including missions involving drones used to intercept Russian attacks.
The development comes amid growing disagreements between Kyiv and Washington over Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian Forces Report Unexpected Loss of Connections
Beskrestnov said the restrictions were introduced during the night while Ukrainian forces were conducting military operations.
He explained that the changes affected Starshield, a satellite communications service developed for government and military users.
“Our defence forces did not receive a warning about this limitation, and this led to the disruption of several missions,” he wrote on Telegram, according to Reuters.
The adviser, who specialises in radio communications and electronic warfare, said the loss of connectivity had interrupted operations involving unmanned aerial vehicles.
Beskrestnov also suggested that the restrictions were connected to wider political developments.
“It is obvious that this action cannot be a coincidence and is linked to the current political situation,” he said.
He did not provide evidence establishing a political motive or identify who had authorised the restrictions.
SpaceX had not publicly explained the changes when the initial reports emerged.
The BBC reported that Ukrainian defence ministry sources were examining the cause of the disruption.
Military personnel also reported losing connections at speeds below the stated threshold.
Drone Units Forced to Cancel Missions
Ukraine’s 7th Air Assault Corps confirmed that some of its drone operations had been interrupted.
The formation, which operates in southeastern Ukraine, said communications were dropping out even when drones were travelling considerably slower than 160 kilometres per hour.
According to a statement reported by Reuters, the connection sometimes disappeared for between 10 and 20 seconds at speeds of approximately 110 to 120 kilometres per hour.
Although the drones continued flying, the interruptions made them more difficult to control.
The unit said some operations had consequently been cancelled.
Ukraine relies on satellite communications for several categories of unmanned aircraft, including longer-range attack drones and interceptors designed to destroy incoming Russian drones.
The equipment allows operators to maintain contact with aircraft beyond the range of conventional radio communications.
Interruption of that connection can prevent operators from receiving live images or transmitting instructions.
Ukrainian officials said the restrictions had affected reconnaissance, logistical support, and communications relay operations as well as combat missions.
A defence ministry source told Ukrainska Pravda that the problems were particularly significant for interceptor drones and medium-range attack aircraft.
The source confirmed that Ukrainian authorities were gathering information from affected units.
Ukraine Seeks Assistance From US and NATO Partners
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry has contacted American officials, SpaceX, and NATO partners about the restrictions.
The ministry said it was examining alternative communications arrangements to maintain military operations.
A defence official told Ukrinform that the authorities were assessing the extent of the disruption and reviewing backup communications systems.
The official said the speed restrictions had not affected all military units in the same way.
Some equipment reportedly lost connectivity at speeds as low as approximately 72 kilometres per hour, while other terminals remained connected until reaching the higher threshold.
The differences complicated attempts to establish how widely the restrictions had affected operations.
Ukraine has used Starlink extensively since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The system provides internet access through a network of satellites operating above Earth, allowing Ukrainian troops to communicate in areas where conventional telecommunications infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.
Its resistance to some forms of electronic interference has also made it useful in drone warfare.
Ukrainian forces use the technology for command communications, battlefield coordination, reconnaissance, and directing certain types of remotely operated aircraft.
The military-grade Starshield service is designed for more specialised applications than ordinary commercial Starlink connections.
The latest restrictions primarily concern terminals using that military service while moving at speed.
Restrictions Come Amid Tensions With Washington
The disruption coincided with tensions between Ukraine and the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Washington has pressed Kyiv to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, which Ukrainian forces have targeted with long-range drones.
Ukraine has argued that the attacks weaken Russia’s ability to finance and sustain its military operations.
Trump has criticised the strikes and called for an agreement to stop attacks on energy infrastructure.
On Sunday, he announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an energy ceasefire.
However, Russian forces have continued attacking Ukrainian power stations and other infrastructure.
Zelenskyy has expressed concern about American intelligence-sharing arrangements after Russian missiles struck Kyiv without the usual advance warnings from international partners.
Trump denied on Tuesday that the United States was withholding intelligence from Ukraine.
The Ukrainian government has not established whether the Starshield restrictions resulted from a decision by SpaceX or the American authorities.
According to The Associated Press, neither SpaceX nor the White House had provided an immediate explanation for the disruption.
The report also noted that a member of Ukraine’s parliamentary defence committee said international intelligence sharing had not stopped.
Starlink Remains Central to Ukraine’s Defence
The latest disruption follows earlier disagreements over how Starlink technology should be used during the war.
In February, SpaceX restricted access to terminals being operated by Russian forces, disrupting some of Moscow’s battlefield communications.
Ukraine had sought those restrictions after identifying unauthorised Russian use of the satellite network.
Starlink has also been central to Ukrainian operations against Russian positions in occupied territories.
Its use has expanded from providing communications to military units to supporting increasingly sophisticated drones capable of conducting reconnaissance and attacks over considerable distances.
Ukraine has consequently begun exploring alternative satellite communications technologies to reduce its dependence on a single provider.
The immediate priority, Ukrainian defence officials said, is to establish stable communications for units affected by the latest restrictions.
The Defence Ministry has not disclosed how many drones or military formations experienced interruptions.
It has also not announced when normal Starshield connectivity will be restored.
For now, the Ukrainian authorities are continuing discussions with SpaceX, the United States, and NATO partners while assessing the impact on military operations.
