Ukrainian forces continue to face significant disruptions to the Starlink satellite network, despite Donald Trump's assertion that Elon Musk had lifted restrictions on the service. The slowdown, affecting the crucial communications system used by Ukrainian troops, began last week following public criticism from Trump and Musk towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding ongoing strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Context
The restrictions have sparked confusion about their origin, with both Trump and Musk denying responsibility. Trump stated, "I don’t comment one way or the other," when asked about reports of his involvement in demanding the lifting of restrictions. He added, "The bottom line: he put it back."
Current Developments
Despite these claims, Ukrainian officials reported on Friday that internet speeds remained capped at approximately 100 mph, with no signs of the restrictions being lifted. Serhii Beskrestnov, a military expert advising Zelenskyy, noted:
“"At present, we have not observed any lifting of the restrictions on Starlink. There have been isolated cases in which Starlink has operated at speeds slightly above the imposed limits, but this is likely due to SpaceX’s algorithms or specific conditions of use, rather than any lifting of the restrictions."
The speed limitations have hindered Ukrainian military equipment, including drones, from maintaining a stable connection to the satellite network while traveling at high speeds. This has adversely affected both offensive drone operations and efforts to intercept incoming Russian attacks.
