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SpaceX overnight capped the speed at which their military-grade StarShield terminals can travel, and the front line in Ukraine felt the consequences of this very sudden development. According to an advisor to the President of Ukraine on defense technology matters, Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov, terminals that travel faster than 100 mph will lose connection to the satellite networks that they rely on.
“Obviously, this action cannot be a coincidence and is connected with the current political situation,” Beskrestnov said. Ukrainian activist Serhii Sternenko went further, saying he believes SpaceX restricted the use of the StarShield terminals at the behest of the Trump administration. No word of confirmation from the space firm, however. And while no one has produced evidence that the White House has even asked for such a restriction, The Guardian writes that the SpaceX restriction is coming at a time when the Trump administration is pushing Ukraine to cease carrying out long-range strikes against Russia’s oil industry.
As reported by the field and by Ukrainian analysts, the real cutoff speed is much lower than 100 mph. A report from Serhii Sternenko, who is relaying information from various military units, says that connectivity starts to degrade and drop at around 60-70 km/h or 37-43 mph. Ukrainian Ministry of Defense sources said overnight testing pointed to roughly 160 km/h, though the exact threshold is still being verified.
Lowering the threshold to 37-43 mph would severely hamper Ukraine’s use of medium-range kamikaze drones, FP-2, Darts, Hornet and RAM-2 models among them. These systems are used to engage Russian air defenses, behind-the-lines logistics and high-value infrastructure targets in Crimea and in the border regions.
Additionally, Ukraine’s drone interceptors also are flown and guided by Starlink, meaning that even if Ukraine’s offense is severely impaired by reduced Starlink connectivity, its air defense against jet-powered Shahed-type drones also will be impaired.
The cut-off could also be an attempt at a short-term influence, on par with intelligence-sharing embargo by the US in spring 2025. If Starlink’s restrictions become permanent, Ukraine will urgently need alternatives and may have to copy Russia’s relay stations and mesh modems, all of which will take time and money.
The meaning is obvious, regardless of who pressed the button: all of Ukraine’s drone war, logistics and medium-range strikes are conducted via American space infrastructure. The software change, therefore, resulted in a number of failed missions. This is not an independent ally fighting its own war. This is a war that is being fought using Washington’s hardware, intelligence and finances. And it can be strangled in California at any time.
Meanwhile fighting on front continues to get worse: United24 Media reports that overnight Russia launched 39 ballistic missiles and over 120 drones at Ukraine. As a result over 600,000 people have been left without power. The war has been going on for 4 years now, with no breakthrough in sight. Every new batch of weapons and every new satellite link only leads to a new round of clashes.
Withdrawal of the American side of the war from participation is the right step to take. By controlling the Ukrainian military’s connectivity, an American company can influence the course of the war. Hence, the American government is already a party to the war. And a party can leave. The war needs to be brought to an end and let the warring parties settle their differences in a peace negotiation.
It will end the funding, the intelligence and the satellite communications of the war that is not America’s. America’s role should be that of a broker of a peace agreement. As long as Washington keeps fueling and prolonging the war, the bloodshed will only be continuing and Washington might be pulled into a far greater conflict.
The end of US participation in the war will not bring an end to the war itself. But it will end the part of the war that the US is involved with. The US should now withdraw from the war entirely.
