In short
- Starlink restricted speed limits to 100mph (160km/h) on Tuesday night, meaning any weapon travelling faster lost connectivity to the network.
- Elon Musk said Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government and that any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately the US president.
- Ukraine’s former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the limits had been partially restored by Wednesday evening.
- Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, said the restrictions “cannot be a coincidence and is related to the current political situation”.
- At least 600,000 people across Ukraine were left without electricity after Russian strikes, and two people were killed in the Dnipropetrovsk region early on Thursday, governor Oleksandr Hanzha said.
Elon Musk said on Wednesday that Starshield, the military-grade satellite service used by Ukraine, is owned and controlled by the US government, and that decisions on its speed or usage rest with the US military and ultimately the US president. Ukraine said new 100mph speed limits disrupted its battlefield missions.
What speed limits did Starlink impose on Ukraine?
Starlink, the civilian satellite internet service owned by Musk’s SpaceX, restricted speed limits on Tuesday night to 100mph (160km/h), meaning any weapons travelling faster than that lost connectivity to the network. Ukraine’s former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the limits had been partially restored by Wednesday evening, and wrote on X: “Removing Starshield’s speed limit entirely is now critical for Ukraine’s defense.”
What did Musk say about who controls Starshield?
Musk replied to Fedorov’s post on X: “Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS.” Both services are owned by SpaceX: Starlink provides civilian internet access from low Earth orbit, while Starshield is designed for government and military use. Musk added that Starlink is for “civilian or defensive activities” and cannot be used for “offensive military action”. The US government has not commented.
What did Ukrainian officials say?
Serhiy Beskrestnov, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote on Telegram on Wednesday morning: “It is clear that this action cannot be a coincidence and is related to the current political situation.” Zelensky told UK media: “I hope that it’s a mistake, maybe [a] huge technical problem.”
What happened on the battlefield?
The restrictions came as Russia launched attacks that officials said killed several people in Kyiv and hit communications and energy facilities used by Ukraine’s military. Zelensky called it “one of the largest attacks” from Russia and said that while “a significant part of the drones were shot down” there were “also hits”. At least 600,000 people across Ukraine were left without electricity. Energy infrastructure has been hit repeatedly: Zelensky has said Russia struck six energy sites after a Trump ceasefire. In the early hours of Thursday, Russian strikes killed two people in the Dnipropetrovsk region, regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said.
How do US-Ukraine relations stand?
US President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated towards Ukraine as it continues to strike Russian energy facilities. Zelensky has said the US threatened to restrict intelligence sharing if he did not sign up to Trump’s energy ceasefire, but on Tuesday Trump denied this. Late on Wednesday, Musk wrote on X: “And so the slaughter continues … Time for Zelensky to go.” Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, Ukraine has been under martial law and elections have been suspended. Europe’s courts are handling related cases, including a Ukrainian man on trial in Hamburg over the Nord Stream blasts.
What happened on Zelensky’s visit to London?
During a one-day visit to London on Wednesday, Zelensky agreed he had felt betrayed after the US made a deal with Russia to import 300,000 tonnes of its diesel, telling UK journalist Piers Morgan: “Really yes… but it’s a little bit more complicated than just my emotions or my feelings.” UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham greeted him at Downing Street, and No 10 announced it would speed up delivery of lightweight multirole missiles to Ukraine.
Frequently asked questions
Why were Starlink speed limits imposed on Ukrainian weapons?
Starlink capped speeds at 100mph (160km/h) on Tuesday night, so any weapon travelling faster lost network connectivity. Elon Musk said Starshield, the military-grade service, is controlled by the US government and that limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately the US president.
What is the difference between Starlink and Starshield?
Both are owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Starlink is a civilian service that uses satellites in low Earth orbit to provide internet access, while Starshield is designed for government and military use.
How many people were affected by the Russian strikes on Ukraine?
At least 600,000 people across Ukraine were left without electricity, and two people were killed in the Dnipropetrovsk region in the early hours of Thursday, according to regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha.
What has Elon Musk said about Volodymyr Zelensky?
Late on Wednesday, Musk wrote on X: “And so the slaughter continues … Time for Zelensky to go.” He has made similar comments before, and earlier this week said Ukraine should get a new leader after US President Donald Trump said it was “time for Ukraine to get a new president”.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)