Ukraine Disputes Musk's 70-90 km/h Starlink Drone Claim as Service Curbs Spur Alternatives
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Oct 25
Ukraine Disputes Musk's 70-90 km/h Starlink Drone Claim as Service Curbs Spur Alternatives
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Oct 25
Summary
Serhii Beskrestnov, a Zelenskyy defense technology adviser, said Starlink's 70-90 km/h cap made it "physically impossible" for Ukraine to use the commercial system for deep or medium-range strike drones.
Elon Musk had said Saturday that Ukraine's military violated Starlink terms by using the service for offensive drone strikes, a claim Ukraine says triggered temporary restrictions on high-speed Starlink and Starshield access.
Ukraine said the curbs disrupted drone air-defense operations during repeated Russian attacks and were imposed without warning; high-speed service was restored on Saturday.
Confusion over who ordered the changes deepened after Musk suggested the U.S. government was involved, while President Donald Trump said he knew nothing about the decision.
The episode is accelerating Ukraine and allies' push for sovereign satellite networks, with EU-backed IRIS² not expected to begin launches until 2029.