Brief
Zelensky says US jammed Ukraine's military Starlink, slows drone speeds
Zelensky presented evidence that Starlink speeds were lower inside Ukraine than in the EU, accusing the United States of a planned restriction.
By Felo News Desk · Published
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that he had proof the United States deliberately slowed the military‑grade Starlink system used by Ukraine’s forces, causing drones to lose connectivity at higher speeds inside the country.
What happened
Zelensky told reporters via WhatsApp that Ukrainian drones travelling at 180 km/h (112 mph) in the European Union maintained a stable link, but the same drones cut out when exceeding 160 km/h (99 mph) inside Ukraine. He said the speed‑restriction was active on Saturday and persisted into the following day, despite a partial restoration of service on Wednesday evening.
What the reports add
The Daily Mail article notes that the slowdown affected the Starlink‑derived “Starshield” service, which provides high‑speed internet to Ukraine’s military for drone control and missile defence. It also cites The Telegraph, which reported that Elon Musk had suggested to former US President Donald Trump the idea of imposing speed limits, and that Trump allegedly agreed.
What was said
"The conclusion is clear: the restrictions are in effect within Ukraine but do not apply within the European Union. In other words, this is a planned operation," Zelensky said, according to the Daily Mail.
Donald Trump denied the allegation, stating, "We didn't do that. We didn't slow it down at all," as quoted in the same article.
The piece also records Musk’s claim that the limits were set by the US government, not by SpaceX, and that he publicly blamed the US president for the decision.
How it came about
Zelensky’s accusations follow a series of incidents in mid‑October where Starlink service was intermittently throttled, prompting earlier reports that the US had imposed speed caps on terminals moving above 100 mph. Those caps were said to have hampered drone operations and air‑defence warnings, with restoration efforts reported later in the week.
Key facts
- Zelensky said Starlink speeds were lower inside Ukraine than in the EU, cutting out above 160 km/h. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Trump denied any US action to slow Starlink, saying "We didn't do that." (dailymail.co.uk)
- Musk claimed the speed limits were set by the US government, not SpaceX. (dailymail.co.uk)
- The slowdown affected the military‑grade Starshield service used for drone communications. (dailymail.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] dailymail.co.uk — originally reported as “Zelensky says US slowed down Starlink satellite system in Ukraine”
