Ukraine Says Starshield Restrictions Persist Despite Trump’s Claims of Restoration

Ukrainian officials confirmed on Friday that restrictions on the military-grade Starshield satellite internet service remain in place, contradicting President Donald Trump’s recent claim that Elon Musk had fully restored Ukraine’s access to the system. The limitations are reportedly disrupting Ukrainian military operations amid continued Russian drone attacks.

Trump’s Phone Call to Elon Musk and Public Comments

According to a source familiar with the matter, President Trump made a phone call in recent days to Elon Musk, requesting the restoration of Ukraine’s full access to the Starshield satellite system. Trump had sought information after Ukrainian officials reported disruptions in the service. However, when pressed by reporters at the White House, Trump said, “Whether I called or whether somebody else called, doesn’t make any difference, I guess. The bottom line – he put it back.”

Despite these assertions, Trump declined to confirm details about the original cause of the slowdown, telling CNN, “I have no idea, but I wouldn’t tell you if I did.” He also promised to speak with Musk again if the problem was not resolved, stating he would get Ukraine’s access to Starshield “straightened out.”

Ukrainian Officials Report Ongoing Limitations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the issue on Friday afternoon Kyiv-time, stating, “The speed limits on Starlink and Starshield are still there, and the speed has not been restored.” He expressed hope that SpaceX and the American administration would act to remove the restrictions, saying, “We hope that the SpaceX and American administration will do it … We count on such decisions.”

A Ukrainian Defense Ministry source told CNN that “there is currently no confirmation that the restrictions have been lifted” and that “instances of signal loss are still being observed” for military ordnance moving above 100 miles per hour (161 kilometers per hour). A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer described the situation as challenging, saying, “There are definitely speed limits; nothing has changed yet, at least from what I can see here. It makes coordination difficult; sometimes there are interruptions. The connection drops out for 10 to 15 seconds.”

The officer added that losses of military assets have increased, stating, “We lost a lot of assets, much more than usual,” with reconnaissance drones and drones equipped with Starlink systems particularly affected. Another source familiar with the situation noted that while some access may have been restored, speeds remain insufficient to intercept jet-powered drones launched by Russia.

Conflicting Accounts and Responsibility for Restrictions

Trump and several top officials have denied ordering the throttling of Ukraine’s Starshield service and have not provided a clear explanation for the restrictions. Musk also denied taking unilateral action, stating on social media, “Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS.”

The Wall Street Journal first reported Trump’s call to Musk last week to request restoration of full access. Musk’s role and the US military’s involvement remain points of contention, with Ukraine awaiting clarification from the US government.

Ongoing Russian Attacks and Ukraine’s Defense Challenges

Russian attacks continue despite Ukrainian defense struggles linked to Starshield limitations. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 176 attack drones on Thursday night and overnight. At least nine civilians were killed and 76 injured in the past day, according to a CNN tally of local officials’ reports. Over 500,000 people are without power due to Russian attacks.

Meanwhile, Ukraine faces a shortage of US-made Patriot missile interceptors. President Zelensky noted on Friday, “The delivery of interceptors to protect us against Russian ballistic missiles is still delayed. We are waiting for interceptors that were already agreed on, but they are still not coming.” He expressed hope for another meeting with American negotiators in the coming week following talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Tuesday.

The ongoing Starshield restrictions and delays in interceptor deliveries continue to hamper Ukraine’s ability to defend critical infrastructure and civilian populations from Russian missile and drone strikes.