Ukraine Says SpaceX Quietly Capped Starshield Speeds Overnight

Image: Starlink

SpaceX has introduced a speed limit on military Starshield terminals used by Ukraine’s forces, according to Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, who says the cap took effect overnight without warning and disrupted several missions.

Beskrestnov made the claim on Telegram, and Interfax-Ukraine reported his full statement. “I confirm that tonight SpaceX introduced speed restrictions on Starlink terminals while in motion. Currently, the restriction applies to the ‘military package’ of StarShield services and is set at a speed of 100 miles per hour [160 km/h],” he wrote. He added that “our defense forces received no prior warning” and that the change “led to the disruption of several missions.”

A Defense Ministry source told the Kyiv Independent that the limits were discovered and that the cause is being investigated. Front-line sources speaking to Ukrainska Pravda said the change hit on the night of October 13 to 14, while ministry sources cited by Business Insider said some units lost their connection at speeds as low as 45 mph. Beskrestnov has suggested the timing is not a coincidence and reflects the political situation, though the Kyiv Independent and Business Insider both noted he offered no evidence for that view. SpaceX, Elon Musk and the White House have not commented.

The distinction between the two services matters here. According to Ukrainska Pravda, a standard Starlink Mini mounted on a drone already tops out at around 160 km/h, so faster aircraft rely on Starshield, the government-focused version of the network that Ukraine began using in 2024. RBC-Ukraine reported that standard Starlink terminals in the country have carried speed limits of roughly 70 to 90 km/h since whitelists were introduced, and Beskrestnov now says the cap also affects interceptor drones that use the system.

Those whitelists grew out of a joint effort earlier this year, when Ukraine worked with SpaceX to deactivate unauthorized Starlink terminals being used by Russian forces. SpaceX’s government business has also been expanding, including a Starshield deal to bring the service to military aircraft.

The relationship between Musk and Kyiv has had its ups and downs. Musk previously refused to allow Starlink to be used for strikes inside Russia, but in March 2025 he said Ukraine’s terminals would not be switched off, and in August President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded him Ukraine’s Order of Freedom. This month, a bipartisan US congressional delegation visiting Kyiv pushed to expand Ukraine’s Starlink access.

The reports have also drawn attention in neighboring Poland, where Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski called out Musk on X. Poland has its own recent Starlink headlines, after an arson attack on a ground station that authorities linked to suspected sabotage.

We’ll update if SpaceX responds. Do you think the cap is a technical change or something more?