Starlink Imposes 100mph Drone Cap in Ukraine as Kyiv Blames US Pressure
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Oct 15
Starlink Imposes 100mph Drone Cap in Ukraine as Kyiv Blames US Pressure
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Oct 15
Summary
Tuesday night's 100mph limit cut internet links for faster Ukrainian drones, disrupting battlefield missions and hampering defenses against incoming Russian attacks before service was restored Wednesday evening.
Shahed drones fly above 198mph, making interception "all but impossible" under the cap, while Ukrainian units rely on Starlink and Starshield to stream reconnaissance and guide drone operations in real time.
Volodymyr Zelensky said the disruption was "not a technical problem, it was the will," while Elon Musk said any Starshield speed or usage limits are set by the US military and ultimately the president.
The outage hit as Russian strikes left 600,000 without power and damaged communications and energy facilities, sharpening concern over Kyiv's dependence on SpaceX's 10,000-plus-satellite network amid worsening US-Ukraine tensions.