White House Officials Reportedly Ordered Restrictions on Ukraine’s Starshield Service Reuters
The decision to restrict SpaceX’s Starshield satellite communications service used by Ukraine for military operations reportedly originated inside the White House, Reuters reports, citing two U.S. officials and a Western official familiar with the matter.
Starshield, a secure satellite communications system operated by SpaceX, has been used by Ukraine to support military communications and certain drone operations amid its ongoing war with Russia.
Ukrainian officials say the restrictions disrupted some strike-drone missions and slowed interceptor drones used to defend against incoming Russian Shahed attack drones.
According to Ukrainian officials, Starshield receivers are now functioning while in motion, but their operating speeds are reportedly limited to approximately 100 mph (160 km/h).
The development comes as Washington has been pressuring Kyiv to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries, adding to tensions between the two countries over the conduct of the war
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied personally requesting the restrictions. However, it remains unclear which White House official initiated the decision or what specific considerations led to the move.
The controversy highlights Ukraine’s continued dependence on American satellite technology for battlefield communications and drone operations, while raising further questions about the reliability of U.S. support as relations between Washington and Kyiv face renewed strain.
Source: Reuters