Abstract:
Starlink and Starshield, the military satellite service provided by SpaceX in Ukraine, are involved in controversy. Ukrainian President Zelensky said on October 18 that Ukrainian military tests found that satellite terminals would disconnect when moving at a speed exceeding 161 kilometers per hour in Ukraine, while the same equipment could still work normally when moving at a speed exceeding 180 kilometers per hour in the EU. He believed that the relevant restrictions were artificially set, and accused the U.S. government of making the speed limit decision and SpaceX being responsible for the technical implementation.
However, U.S. President Trump denied involvement in the matter, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also stated that the U.S. government did not issue a speed limit order. Another person familiar with the matter said that Musk had proactively made suggestions to Trump to restrict Ukraine’s Starlink services.
Ukraine announced test results: high-speed mobile devices were disconnected within the country, but normal within the EU
Zelensky said in an interview on Sunday that the Ukrainian military has conducted technical tests on SpaceX satellite communication services and found that there are obvious differences in the system in different regions. According to Ukrainian test results, when a drone equipped with a Starlink terminal flies at a speed exceeding 161 kilometers per hour in Ukraine, the satellite connection will be completely interrupted, which may cause the drone to lose control.
But within the EU, the same system can still maintain normal connections after moving at speeds exceeding 180 kilometers per hour. Zelensky said that Ukraine has relevant test records and technical evidence, so it believes that the restrictions only target services in Ukraine.
Starlink and Starshield have become an important part of the Ukrainian military’s communication system and are widely used for tasks such as battlefield communication, logistics coordination, drone video transmission, target identification, and interception of Russian drones.
Ukraine has previously received Starshield services with support from a U.S. Department of Defense contract. By the end of 2024, SpaceX will expand the number of Ukrainian terminals covered by relevant services from about 500 to about 3,000.
Musk said the speed limit was decided by the US military, but Trump and Rubio denied the order
The U.S. government and SpaceX have different opinions regarding the responsibility for this speed limit decision. Previously, the former Minister of Defense of Ukraine sought help from Musk on social platforms, requesting that Starshield’s speed limit be completely lifted.
Musk responded that the speed and usage limits of Starshield are determined by the U.S. military, and the final decision belongs to the President of the United States; he also emphasized that ordinary Starlink services are limited to civilian or defensive uses.
However, Trump later told reporters: "I didn't do it, and I don't think Elon did it."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also denied on Saturday that the U.S. government had issued restrictions. He said that the United States had nothing to do with this matter and no one ordered to reduce the speed of Ukraine’s Starlink service. Rubio also claimed that Ukraine cannot use Starshield services at all, but this statement is inconsistent with previous US Department of Defense-related procurement contracts and Musk’s public statements.
Informed sources said that Musk had proactively proposed speed limits, and Zelensky asked Trump to reverse the decision
According to a person familiar with the matter, Musk took the initiative to make suggestions to Trump to reduce the speed of Ukraine’s Starlink service, and Trump agreed. The report also stated that Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, was recently attacked by Russian high-speed jet drones, and the Ukrainian army’s air defense communication capabilities were restricted. Musk was therefore worried that related incidents might trigger a negative reaction from European consumers.
An anonymous source said that although Musk publicly attributed the responsibility to the US government, in fact both Trump and Musk participated in the relevant decisions.
Zelensky said on Sunday that the Ukrainian government and military generally believed that the restrictions came from the US government and that SpaceX was responsible for the technical implementation. He emphasized that if Trump decides to lift restrictions, related services can be restored to normal immediately.
Zelensky also said that Ukraine will continue to resist Russian military operations even if it loses Starlink support, but he cannot understand why the United States restricts Ukraine's defense capabilities.
As of October 18, Ukraine said that the relevant speed restrictions have not been lifted.
Europe seeks to reduce its reliance on Starlink, and the dispute over satellite communications between the United States and Europe heats up
The importance of Starlink in the Ukrainian war has further raised concerns about the autonomy of communications infrastructure in Europe due to its service restrictions.
The EU is promoting the development of satellite communication systems that can replace Starlink to reduce its dependence on US companies and Musk.
However, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union warned on Sunday that the United States may take severe countermeasures if the EU advances its policy of prioritizing the use of European domestic satellites and restricting U.S. suppliers such as SpaceX.
This dispute is not the first time SpaceX has restricted Ukraine’s use of Starlink.
During the Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2022, Musk was revealed to have asked SpaceX engineers to limit Starlink coverage in some disputed areas. In 2023, SpaceX and Chief Operating Officer Gwen Shotwell also admitted that the company had taken measures to restrict the Ukrainian army from using Starlink for specific military purposes.
Trump adjusts his policy toward Russia, and Ukraine is worried about U.S. pressure to make concessions
The satellite communications controversy comes as the Trump administration is adjusting its policy toward Russia and pushing for a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
On October 9, Trump announced a diesel supply arrangement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to ease the energy price pressure caused by the US-Iran conflict and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
On the evening of October 16, Trump signed another executive order exempting some of the sanctions against Russia passed by the US Congress last month.
Trump stated on social platforms on Sunday that he was promoting peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and did not want to take actions that might cause Russia to withdraw from the negotiations.
Zelensky believes that some recent U.S. policies are exerting pressure on Ukraine in an attempt to push Ukraine to make concessions.
As for satellite communication restrictions, Zelensky emphasized that whether to lift relevant measures ultimately depends on Trump himself.
At present, there are still obvious differences in opinions about who proposes, approves and implements speed limit decisions. However, Ukraine has made it clear that the relevant restrictions are affecting its drone communications and battlefield operations, and this controversy has further highlighted the important role of SpaceX satellite networks in modern military operations.
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